Sri Lanka Geography:
Location:
Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India
Geographic coordinates:
7 00 N, 81 00 E
Map references:
Area:
total:
65,610 sq km
land:
64,740 sq km
water:
870 sq km
Area - comparative:
Slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
total: 0 km
border countries: NA
Coastline:
1,340 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Climate:
Tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to October)
Terrain:
Mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interior
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pidurutalagala 2,524 m
Natural resources:
Limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates, clay, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 13.86%
permanent crops: 15.7%
other: 70.44%
(2001)
Irrigated land:
6,510 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
Occasional cyclones and tornadoes
Environment - current issues:
Deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by poaching and urbanization; coastal degradation from mining activities and increased pollution; freshwater resources being polluted by industrial wastes and sewage runoff; waste disposal; air pollution in Colombo
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation (not ratified)
Geography - Note:
Strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes |
