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Location:
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Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique
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Geographic coordinates:
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20 00 S, 47 00 E
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Map references:
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africa
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Area:
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total: 587,040 sq km
water: 5,500 sq km
land: 581,540 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly less than twice the size of Arizona
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Land boundaries:
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0 km
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Coastline:
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4,828 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or 100 nm from the 2,500-m deep isobath
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
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Climate:
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tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south
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Terrain:
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narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Maromokotro 2,876 m
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Natural resources:
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graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower
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Land use:
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arable land: 5.07%
permanent crops: 1.03%
other: 93.91% (2001)
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Irrigated land:
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10,900 sq km (2000 est.)
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Natural hazards:
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periodic cyclones, drought, and locust infestation
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Environment - current issues:
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soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing; desertification; surface water contaminated with raw sewage and other organic wastes; several species of flora and fauna unique to the island are endangered
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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 Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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Geography - note:
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world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique Channel
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