Short facts about the geography of Bahamas

Location:

Caribbean, chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida

Geographic coordinates:

24 15 N, 76 00 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total:  13,940 sq km land:  10,070 sq km water:  3,870 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Connecticut

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

3,542 km

Maritime claims:

continental shelf:  200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone:  200 NM territorial sea:  12 NM

Climate:

tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream

Terrain:

long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills

Elevation extremes:

lowest point:  Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point:  Mount Alvernia, on Cat Island 63 m

Natural resources:

salt, aragonite, timber, arable land

Land use:

arable land:  1% permanent crops:  0% permanent pastures:  0% forests and woodland:  32% other:  67% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land:

NA sq km

Natural hazards:

hurricanes and other tropical storms that cause extensive flood and wind damage

Environment - current issues:

coral reef decay; solid waste disposal

Environment - international agreements:

party to:  Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified:  none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive island chain

Source: World Factbook