Geography of Malta
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The Geography of Malta is dominated by water. As an archipelago of coralline limestone, located in the Mediterranean Sea, ~93 km south of Sicily, Italy, Europe; and ~300km north of Africa. Only the three largest islands Malta, Gozo, and Comino are inhabited. The country is ~316 km2 in area. Numerous bays along the indented coastline of the islands provide good harbours. The landscape of the islands is characterised by low hills with terraced fields. The highest point, at 253 m, is the Ta' Dmejrek on Malta Island. The capital is Valletta.
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Map of Malta
Geographic coordinates: Template:Coor dm
Map references: Europe
Area:
total:
316 km?
land:
316 km?
water:
0 km?
Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 140 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
24 nautical miles
continental shelf:
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone:
25 nautical miles
territorial sea:
12 nautical miles
Climate: Mediterranean with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers
Terrain: mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs
Elevation extremes:
lowest point:
Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point:
Ta'Dmejrek 253 m (near Dingli)
Natural resources: limestone, salt, arable land
Land use:
arable land:
38%
permanent crops:
3%
permanent pastures:
0%
forests and woodland:
0%
other:
59% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 10 km? (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: very limited natural fresh water resources; increasing reliance on desalination
Environment - international agreements:
party to:
Air Pollution, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:
Biodiversity, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
- See also : Malta