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Location:
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Caribbean, island in the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
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Geographic coordinates:
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13 10 N, 59 32 W
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Map references:
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central america and the caribbean
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Area:
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total: 431 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 431 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
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Land boundaries:
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0 km
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Coastline:
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97 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
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Climate:
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tropical; rainy season (June to October)
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Terrain:
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relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Hillaby 336 m
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Natural resources:
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petroleum, fish, natural gas
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Land use:
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arable land: 37.21%
permanent crops: 2.33%
other: 60.46% (2001)
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Irrigated land:
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10 sq km (1998 est.)
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Natural hazards:
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infrequent hurricanes; periodic landslides
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Environment - current issues:
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pollution of coastal waters from waste disposal by ships; soil erosion; illegal solid waste disposal threatens contamination of aquifers
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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Geography - note:
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easternmost Caribbean island
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