Cuba/Geography
Location:
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, south of Florida
Geographic coordinates:
21 30 N, 80 00 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total:
110,860 km²
land:
110,860 km²
water:
0 km²
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries:
total:
29 km
border countries:
US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay 29 km (leased by the US and thus remaining part of Cuba)
Coastline:
3,735 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone:
200 nautical miles
territorial sea:
12 nautical miles
Climate:
tropical; moderated by trade winds; dry season (November to April); rainy season (May to October)
Terrain:
mostly flat to rolling plains, with rugged hills and mountains in the southeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point:
Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point:
Pico Turquino 2,005 m
Natural resources:
cobalt, nickel, iron ore, copper, manganese, salt, timber, silica, petroleum, arable land
Land use:
arable land:
24%
permanent crops:
7%
permanent pastures:
27%
forests and woodland:
24%
other:
18% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land:
9,100 km² (1993 est.)
Natural hazards:
the east coast is subject to hurricanes from August to October (in general, the country averages about one hurricane every other year); droughts are common
Environment - current issues:
pollution of Havana Bay; overhunting threatens wildlife populations; deforestation
Environment - international agreements:
party to:
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified:
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
largest country in Caribbean.
- See also : Cuba
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