Jamaica's Geography | Jamaica Geography

Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba

Geographic coordinates: 18 15 N, 77 30 W

Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Area: Total: 10,991 sq km land: 10,831 sq km water: 160 sq km

Area - comparative: Slightly smaller than Connecticut

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 1,022 km

Maritime claims: Measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin

Climate: Tropical; hot, humid; temperate interior

Terrain: Mostly mountains, with narrow, discontinuous coastal plain

Elevation extremes: Lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Blue Mountain Peak 2,256 m

Natural resources: Bauxite, gypsum, limestone

Land use: Arable land: 16.07% permanent crops: 10.16% other: 73.77% (2001)

Irrigated land: 250 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards: Hurricanes (especially July to November)

Environment - current issues: Heavy rates of deforestation; coastal waters polluted by industrial waste, sewage, and oil spills; damage to coral reefs; air pollution in Kingston results from vehicle emissions

Environment - international agreements: Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note: Strategic location between Cayman Trench and Jamaica Channel, the main sea lanes for the Panama Canal

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The information here has been derived from Public Domain Sources such as the CIA World Factbook. No liability can be taken for any inaccuracies. You can use the maps, flags and facts presented here however you choose.