Short facts about the geography of Hong Kong

Location:

Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China

Geographic coordinates:

22 15 N, 114 10 E

Map references:

Southeast Asia

Area:

total:  1,092 sq km land:  1,042 sq km water:  50 sq km

Area - comparative:

six times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

total:  30 km border countries:  China 30 km

Coastline:

733 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea:  3 NM

Climate:

tropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and rainy from spring through summer, warm and sunny in fall

Terrain:

hilly to mountainous with steep slopes; lowlands in north

Elevation extremes:

lowest point:  South China Sea 0 m highest point:  Tai Mo Shan 958 m

Natural resources:

outstanding deepwater harbor, feldspar

Land use:

arable land:  6% permanent crops:  1% permanent pastures:  1% forests and woodland:  20% other:  72% (1997 est.)

Irrigated land:

20 sq km (1997 est.)

Natural hazards:

occasional typhoons

Environment - current issues:

air and water pollution from rapid urbanization

Environment - international agreements:

party to:  Marine Dumping (associate member), Ship Pollution (associate member)

Geography - note:

more than 200 islands

Source: World Factbook