Anguilla Geography Profile 2006

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

18 15 N, 63 10 W

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Area

total: 102 sq km
land: 102 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

about half the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries

0 km

Coastline

61 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate

tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds

Terrain

flat and low-lying island of coral and limestone

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Crocus Hill 65 m

Natural resources

salt, fish, lobster

Land use

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (mostly rock with sparse scrub oak, few trees, some commercial salt ponds) (2005)

Irrigated land

NA

Natural hazards

frequent hurricanes and other tropical storms (July to October)

Environment - current issues

supplies of potable water sometimes cannot meet increasing demand largely because of poor distribution system

Geography - note

the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles