British Virgin Islands Geography Profile 2009

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

total: 151 sq km
land: 151 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: comprised of 16 inhabited and more than 20 uninhabited islands; includes the islands of Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda, Jost van Dyke

Area - comparative

about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries

0 km

Coastline

80 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate

subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds

Terrain

coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly

Elevation extremes

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

Natural resources

NEGL

Land use

arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 6.67%
other: 73.33% (2005)

Irrigated land

NA

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 catchments)

Geography - note

strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico