Short facts about the geography of Barbados

Location:

Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela

Geographic coordinates:

13 10 N, 59 32 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total:  430 sq km land:  430 sq km water:  0 sq km

Area - comparative:

2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

97 km

Maritime claims:

exclusive economic zone:  200 NM territorial sea:  12 NM

Climate:

tropical; rainy season (June to October)

Terrain:

relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region

Elevation extremes:

lowest point:  Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point:  Mount Hillaby 336 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, fish, natural gas

Land use:

arable land:  37% permanent crops:  0% permanent pastures:  5% forests and woodland:  12% other:  46% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land:

NA sq km

Natural hazards:

infrequent hurricanes; periodic landslides

Environment - current issues:

pollution of coastal waters from waste disposal by ships; soil erosion; illegal solid waste disposal threatens contamination of aquifers

Environment - international agreements:

party to:  Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified:  Biodiversity

Geography - note:

easternmost Caribbean island

Source: World Factbook