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: Land boundaries: Coastline: Maritime claims: Climate: Terrain: Elevation: Natural resources: Land use: Irrigated land: Population - distribution: Natural hazards: Environment - current issues: Geography - note:
total: 151 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 151 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 0 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
note: comprised of 16 inhabited and more than 20 uninhabited islands; includes the islands of Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda, Jost van Dyke
country comparison to the world: 220
about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
0 km
80 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]
territorial sea: 3 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - territorial sea country ranks ]
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - exclusive fishing zone country ranks ]
subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds
More Climate Details
coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly
mean elevation: NA
[see also: Elevation - mean elevation country ranks ]
elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Sage 521 m
NEGL; pleasant climate, beaches foster tourism
agricultural land: 46.7%
arable land 6.7%; permanent crops 6.7%; permanent pasture 33.3%
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
forest: 24.3%
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 29% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - other country ranks ]
NA
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]
a fairly even distribution throughout the inhabited islands, with the largest islands of Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda, and Jost Van Dyke having the largest populations
hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October)
limited natural freshwater resources except for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola; most of the islands' water supply comes from desalination plants
strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico