LOCATION : Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy)
GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATES : 35 50 N, 14 35 E
MAP REFERENCES : Europe
AREA TOTAL : 316 sq km
LAND : 316 sq km
WATER : 0 sq km
AREA - COMPARATIVE : slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
LAND BOUNDARIES : 0 km
COASTLINE : 196.8 km (does not include 56.01 km for the island of Gozo)
MARITIME CLAIMS : contiguous zone: 24 NM
CONTINENTAL SHELF : 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
EXCLUSIVE FISHING ZONE : 25 NM
TERRITORIAL SEA : 12 NM
CLIMATE : Mediterranean with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers
TERRAIN : mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs
ELEVATION EXTREMES : lowest point - Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point - Ta'Dmejrek 253 m (near Dingli)
NATURAL RESOURCES : limestone, salt, arable land
LAND USE : arable land: 32%; permanent crops: 3%; permanent pastures: 0%; forests and woodland: 4%
OTHER : 61% (2000 est.)
IRRIGATED LAND : 11.45 sq km (2000 est.)
NATURAL HAZARDS : NA
ENVIRONMENT : current issues: very limited natural fresh water resources; increasing reliance on desalination
ENVIRONMENT : international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
SIGNED, BUT NOT RATIFIED : Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
GEOGRAPHY - NOTES : the country comprises an archipelago, with only the three largest islands (Malta, Ghawdex or Gozo, and Kemmuna or Comino) being inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors; Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration. |
