Geography of The British Virgin Islands

source: CIA World Fact Book 1997

Location: Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico

Geographic coordinates: 18 30 N, 64 30 W

Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

• total: 150 sq km
• land: 150 sq km
• water: 0 sq km
• note : includes the island of Anegada

Area - comparative: about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 80 km

• exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
• territorial sea : 3 nm

Climate: subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds

Terrain: coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly

• lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
• highest point: Mount Sage 521 m

Natural resources: NEGL

• arable land: 20%
• permanent crops: 7%
• permanent pastures: 33%
• forests and woodland: 7%
• other : 33% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October)

Environment - current issues: limited natural fresh water resources (except for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola, most of the islands' water supply comes from wells and rainwater catchment)

Geography - note: strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico