Caribbean, located in the Leeward Islands (northern) group; French part of the island of Saint Martin in the Caribbean Sea; Saint Martin lies east of the US Virgin Islands
Caribbean, located in the Leeward Islands (northern) group; Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin in the Caribbean Sea; Sint Maarten lies east of the US Virgin Islands
Geographic coordinates
18 05 N, 63 57 W
18 4 N, 63 4 W
Map references
Central America and the Caribbean
Central America and the Caribbean
Area
total: 54 sq km
land: 54.4 sq km
water: negligible
total: 34 sq km
land: 34 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin
Area - comparative
more than one-third the size of Washington, DC
one-fifth the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries
total: 16 km
border countries (1): Sint Maarten 16 km
total: 16 km
border countries (1): Saint Martin (France) 16 km
Coastline
58.9 km (for entire island)
58.9 km (for entire island)
Climate
temperature averages 27-29 degrees Celsius all year long; low humidity, gentle trade winds, brief, intense rain showers; hurricane season stretches from July to November
tropical marine climate, ameliorated by northeast trade winds, results in moderate temperatures; average rainfall of 150 cm/year; hurricane season stretches from July to November
Elevation extremes
highest point: Pic du Paradis 424 m
lowest point: Caribbean Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Flagstaff 383 m
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Natural resources
salt
fish, salt
Natural hazards
subject to hurricanes from July to November
subject to hurricanes from July to November
Environment - current issues
excessive population pressure (increasing settlement); waste management; salinity intrusions into the main land of the island; fresh water supply is dependent on desalination of sea water; over exploitation of marine resources (reef fisheries, coral and shell); indiscriminate anchoring of boats damages coral reefs,causing underwater pollution and changes the sediment dynamics of Saint Martin's Island
scarcity of potable water (increasing percentage provided by desalination); inadequate solid waste management; pollution from construction, chemical runoff, and sewage harms reefs
Geography - note
the southern border is shared with Sint Maarten, a country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands; together, these two entities make up the smallest landmass in the world shared by two self-governing states
the northern border is shared with the French overseas collectivity of Saint Martin; together, these two entities make up the smallest landmass in the world shared by two self-governing states
Population distribution
most of the population is found along the coast, with a largest concentrations around the capital Marigot, Orleans, and Grand-Case
most populous areas are Lower Prince's Quarter (north of Philipsburg), followed closely by Cul de Sac
