Bahamas, The's Geography | Bahamas, The Geography

Location: Caribbean, chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida, northeast of Cuba

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: Territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 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, arable land

Land use: Arable land: 0.8% permanent crops: 0.4% other: 98.8% (2001)

Irrigated land: NA

Natural hazards: Hurricanes and other tropical storms 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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, 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 of which 30 are inhabited

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