Caribbean Islands

Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela

Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Area: total area: 430 sq. km : land area: 430 sq. km : comparative area: slightly less than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 97 km

Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM : territorial sea: 12 NM

International disputes: none

Climate: tropical; rainy season (June to October)

Terrain: relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region

Natural resources: petroleum, fishing, natural gas

Land use: arable land: 77% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 9% :forest and woodland: 0% other: 14%

Irrigated land: NA sq. km

Environment: current issues: pollution of coastal waters from waste disposal by ships; soil erosion; illegal solid waste disposal threatens contamination of aquifers: natural hazards: hurricanes (especially June to October); periodic landslides :international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity

Note: easternmost Caribbean island