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Geography of Jamaica

This article describes the geography of Jamaica.

; 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: 10,990 km²
Land: 10,830 km²
Water: 160 km²
; Area--comparative:
Slightly smaller than Connecticut
; Land boundaries:
0 km
; Coastline:
1,022 km
; Maritime claims:
  • Measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
Continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
; 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: 14%
Permanent crops: 6%
Permanent pastures: 24%
Forests and woodland: 17%
Other: 39% (1993 est.)
; Irrigated land:
350 km² (1993 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:
Signed, but not ratified: None of the selected agreements
; Geography--note:
Strategic location between Cayman Trench and Jamaica Channel, the main sea lanes for Panama Canal

See also: Jamaica

Cities