Geography of the British Virgin Islands
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
Area:
Area - comparative:
about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
80 km
Maritime claims:
Climate:
subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds
Terrain:
coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly
Elevation extremes:
Natural resources:
NEGL
Land use:
Irrigated land:
NA km²
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
total:
150 km²
land:
150 km²
water:
0 km²
note:
includes the island of Anegada
exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
3 nm
lowest point:
Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point:
Mount Sage 521 m
arable land:
20%
permanent crops:
7%
permanent pastures:
33%
forests and woodland:
7%
other:
33% (1993 est.)