Geography of The Bahamas

source: CIA World Fact Book 1997

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

• 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

• continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation (measured from the archipelagic straight baselines)
• 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

• lowest point : Atlantic Ocean 0 m
• highest point: Mount Alvernia 63 m

Natural resources: salt, aragonite, timber

• 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

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

Geography - note: strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive island chain