Location:
Western Europe, islands in the English Channel, northwest of France

Geographic coordinates:
49 28 N, 2 35 W

Map references:
Europe

Area:
total: 78 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 78 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Alderney, Guernsey, Herm, Sark, and some other smaller islands
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 228

Area - comparative:
about one-half the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
50 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 3 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - territorial sea country ranks ]
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - exclusive fishing zone country ranks ]

Climate:
temperate with mild winters and cool summers; about 50% of days are overcast

Terrain:
mostly flat with low hills in southwest

Elevation:
lowest point: English Channel 0 m
highest point: Le Moulin on Sark 114 m

Natural resources:
cropland

Irrigated land:
NA
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Natural hazards:
very large tidal variation and fast currents can make local waters dangerous

Environment - current issues:
coastal erosion, coastal flooding; declining biodiversity due to land abandonment and succession to scrub or woodland

Geography - note:
large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port