Location:
Caribbean, an island in the Caribbean Sea, 55 km off the coast of Venezuela

Geographic coordinates:
12 10 N, 69 00 W

Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total: 444 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 444 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 0 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
country comparison to the world: 200

Area - comparative:
more than twice the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
364 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - territorial sea country ranks ]
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - exclusive economic zone country ranks ]

Climate:
tropical marine climate, ameliorated by northeast trade winds, results in mild temperatures; semiarid with average rainfall of 60 cm/year

Terrain:
generally low, hilly terrain

Elevation:
mean elevation: NA
[see also: Elevation - mean elevation country ranks ]
elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mt. Christoffel 372 m

Natural resources:
calcium phosphates, aloes, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables, tropical fruit

Land use:
agricultural land: 10% arable land 10%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 0%
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
forest: 0%
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 90% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - other country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
NA
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Population - distribution:
largest concentration on the island is Willemstad; smaller settlements near the coast can be found throughout the island, particularly in the northwest

Natural hazards:
Curacao is south of the Caribbean hurricane belt and is rarely threatened

Environment - current issues:
problems in waste management that threaten environmental sustainability on the island include pollution of marine areas from domestic sewage, inadequate sewage treatment facilities, industrial effluents and agricultural runoff, the management of toxic substances, and ineffective regulations

Geography - note:
Curacao is a part of the Windward Islands (southern) group in the Lesser Antilles