Short facts about the geography of Christmas Island

Location:

Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia

Geographic coordinates:

10 30 S, 105 40 E

Map references:

Southeast Asia

Area:

total:  135 sq km land:  135 sq km water:  0 sq km

Area - comparative:

about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

138.9 km

Maritime claims:

contiguous zone:  12 NM exclusive fishing zone:  200 NM territorial sea:  3 NM

Climate:

tropical; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds

Terrain:

steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau

Elevation extremes:

lowest point:  Indian Ocean 0 m highest point:  Murray Hill 361 m

Natural resources:

phosphate

Land use:

arable land:  NA% permanent crops:  NA% permanent pastures:  NA% forests and woodland:  NA% other:  NA% note:  mainly tropical rainforest of which 60%-70% is in a national park

Irrigated land:

NA sq km

Natural hazards:

the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard

Environment - current issues:

NA

Geography - note:

located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean

Source: World Factbook