Dominica's Geography | Dominica Geography
Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates: 15 25 N, 61 20 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: Total: 754 sq km land: 754 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: Slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 148 km
Maritime claims: Territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: Tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds; heavy rainfall
Terrain: Rugged mountains of volcanic origin
Elevation extremes: Lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Morne Diablatins 1,447 m
Natural resources: Timber, hydropower, arable land
Land use: Arable land: 6.67% permanent crops: 20% other: 73.33% (2001)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: Flash floods are a constant threat; destructive hurricanes can be expected during the late summer months
Environment - current issues: NA
Environment - international agreements: Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: Known as "The Nature Island of the Caribbean" due to its spectacular, lush, and varied flora and fauna, which are protected by an extensive natural park system; the most mountainous of the Lesser Antilles, its volcanic peaks are cones of lava craters and include Boiling Lake, the second-largest, thermally active lake in the world



