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Virgin Islands Geography:
Location:
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates:
18 20 N, 64 50 W
Map references:
Area:
total:
352 sq km
land:
349 sq km
water:
3 sq km
Area - comparative:
Twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 0 km
border countries: NA
Coastline:
188 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Climate:
Subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season September to November
Terrain:
Mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Crown Mountain 474 m
Natural resources:
Sun, sand, sea, surf
Land use:
arable land: 11.76%
permanent crops: 2.94%
other: 85.3%
(2001)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
Several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes
Environment - current issues:
Lack of natural freshwater resources
Environment - international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography - Note:
Important location along the Anegada Passage - a key shipping lane for the Panama Canal; Saint Thomas has one of the best natural deepwater harbors in the Caribbean |
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