Geography of Cuba
Location:
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, south of Florida
Geographic coordinates:
21 30 N, 80 00 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries:
Coastline:
3,735 km
Maritime claims:
Climate:
tropical; moderated by trade winds[?]; dry season (November to April); rainy season (May to October)
Terrain:
mostly flat to rolling plains, with rugged hills and mountains in the southeast
Elevation extremes:
Natural resources:
cobalt, nickel, iron ore, copper, manganese, salt, timber, silica, petroleum, arable land
Land use:
Irrigated land:
9,100 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards:
the east coast is subject to hurricanes from August to October (in general, the country averages about one hurricane every other year); droughts are common
Environment - current issues:
pollution of Havana Bay[?]; overhunting threatens wildlife populations; deforestation
Environment - international agreements:
Geography - note:
largest country in Caribbean.
total:
110,860 sq km
land:
110,860 sq km
water:
0 sq km
total:
29 km
border countries:
US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay 29 km (leased by the US and thus remaining part of Cuba)
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
lowest point:
Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point:
Pico Turquino[?] 2,005 m
arable land:
24%
permanent crops:
7%
permanent pastures:
27%
forests and woodland:
24%
other:
18% (1993 est.)
party to:
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified:
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life Conservation