Location:
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, 150 km south of Key West, Florida
Geographic coordinates:
21 30 N, 80 00 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: Environment - international agreements: Geography - note:
total: 110,860 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 109,820 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 1,040 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
country comparison to the world: 107
slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Area comparison map: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
total: 28.5 km
[see also: Land boundaries - total country ranks ]
border countries: US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay 28.5 km
note: Guantanamo Naval Base is leased by the US and remains part of Cuba
3,735 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]
territorial sea: 12 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - territorial sea country ranks ]
contiguous zone: 24 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - contiguous zone country ranks ]
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - exclusive economic zone country ranks ]
tropical; moderated by trade winds; dry season (November to April); rainy season (May to October)
More Climate Details
mostly flat to rolling plains, with rugged hills and mountains in the southeast
mean elevation: 108 m
[see also: Elevation - mean elevation country ranks ]
elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Pico Turquino 1,974 m
cobalt, nickel, iron ore, chromium, copper, salt, timber, silica, petroleum, arable land
agricultural land: 60.3%
arable land 33.8%; permanent crops 3.6%; permanent pasture 22.9%
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
forest: 27.3%
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 12.4% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - other country ranks ]
8,700 sq km (2012)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]
large population clusters found throughout the country, the more significant ones being in the larger towns and cities, particularly the capital of Havana
the east coast is subject to hurricanes from August to November (in general, the country averages about one hurricane every other year); droughts are common
air and water pollution; biodiversity loss; deforestation
party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
largest country in Caribbean and westernmost island of the Greater Antilles