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Location:
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Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
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Geographic coordinates:
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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: 153 sq km
note: comprised of 16 inhabited and more than 20 uninhabited islands; includes the island of Anegada
water: 0 sq km
land: 153 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
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Land boundaries:
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0 km
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Coastline:
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80 km
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Maritime claims - as described in UNCLOS 1982 (see Notes and Definitions):
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territorial sea: 3 NM
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
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Climate:
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subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds
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Terrain:
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coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Sage 521 m
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Natural resources:
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NEGL
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Land use:
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arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 6.67%
other: 73.33% (1998 est.)
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Irrigated land:
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NA sq km
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Natural hazards:
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hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October)
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Environment - current issues:
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limited natural fresh water resources (except for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola, most of the islands' water supply comes from wells and rainwater catchments)
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Geography - note:
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strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico
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Information from The World Factbook.
- See also: British Virgin Islands
