| Location : |
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic |
| Geographic Coordinates : |
18 15 N, 66 30 W |
| Map References : |
Central America and the Caribbean |
| Area : |
total: 9,104 sq km
land: 8,959 sq km
water: 145 sq km |
| Area - Comparative : |
slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island |
| Coastline : |
501 km |
| Maritime Claims : |
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
| Climate : |
tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation |
| Terrain : |
mostly mountains with coastal plain belt in north; mountains precipitous to sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal areas |
| Elevation Extremes : |
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Cerro de Punta 1,338 m |
| Natural Resources : |
some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil |
| Land Use : |
arable land: 3.95%
permanent crops: 5.52%
other: 90.53% (2001) |
| Irrigated Land : |
400 sq km (1998 est.) |
| Natural Hazards : |
periodic droughts; hurricanes |
| Environment - Current Issues : |
erosion; occasional drought causing water shortages |
| Geography - Note : |
Important location along the Mona Passage - a key shipping lane to the Panama Canal; San Juan is one of the biggest and best natural harbors in the Caribbean; many small rivers and high central mountains ensure land is well watered; south coast relatively dry; fertile coastal plain belt in north. |
