The Bahamas: Geography
Commonwealth of the Bahamas
Location:
Caribbean, chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida
Geographic coordinates:
24 15 N, 76 00 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total:
13,940 sq km
land:
10,070 sq km
water:
3,870 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
3,542 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf:
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
Climate:
tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream
Terrain:
long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills
Elevation extremes:
lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point:
Mount Alvernia, on Cat Island 63 m
Natural resources:
salt, aragonite, timber
Land use:
arable land:
1%
permanent crops:
0%
permanent pastures:
0%
forests and woodland:
32%
other:
67% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
hurricanes and other tropical storms that cause extensive flood and wind damage
Environment - current issues:
coral reef decay; solid waste disposal
Environment - international agreements:
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive island chain
Source: CIA World Factbook 2000
(In general, information available as of 1 January 2000 was used in the preparation of this edition.)
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