Geography of Barbados

source: CIA World Fact Book 1997

Photos by Dave Lichtenstein of the beach at Bottom Bay, east coast of Barbados (click on images to see larger versions)

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

• 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

• 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

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

Natural resources: petroleum, fish, natural gas

• 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

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

Geography - note: easternmost Caribbean island