Location:
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean; located in the Leeward Islands (northern) group; Saint Barthelemy lies east of the US Virgin Islands

Geographic coordinates:
17 90 N, 62 85 W

Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total: 25 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 25 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: negligible
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 239

Area - comparative:
less than one-eighth the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
0 km

Climate:
tropical, with practically no variation in temperature; has two seasons (dry and humid)

Terrain:
hilly, almost completely surrounded by shallow-water reefs, with plentiful beaches

Elevation:
lowest point: Caribbean Ocean 0 m
highest point: Morne du Vitet 286 m

Natural resources:
few natural resources; beaches foster tourism

Population distribution:
most of the populace concentrated in and around the capital of Gustavia, but scattered settlements exist around the island periphery

Environment - current issues:
land-based pollution; urbanization; with no natural rivers or streams, fresh water is in short supply, especially in summer, and is provided by the desalination of sea water, the collection of rain water, or imported via water tanker; overfishing

Geography - note:
a 1,200-hectare marine nature reserve, the Reserve Naturelle, is made up of five zones around the island that form a network to protect the island's coral reefs, seagrass, and endangered marine species