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Location:
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Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, about one-fourth of the way from Haiti to Jamaica
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Geographic coordinates:
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18 25 N, 75 02 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: 5.2 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 5.2 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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about nine times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
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Land boundaries:
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0 km
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Coastline:
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8 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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marine, tropical
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Terrain:
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raised coral and limestone plateau, flat to undulating; ringed by vertical white cliffs (9 to 15 m high)
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on southwest side 77 m
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Natural resources:
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guano
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Land use:
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arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2001)
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Irrigated land:
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0 sq km (1998 est.)
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Natural hazards:
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NA
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Environment - current issues:
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NA
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Geography - note:
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strategic location 160 km south of the US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; mostly exposed rock but with enough grassland to support goat herds; dense stands of fig-like trees, scattered cactus
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