Location:
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean; located in the Leeward Islands (northern) group; Saint Barthelemy lies east of the US Virgin Islands

Geographic coordinates:
17 90 N, 62 85 W

Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total: 25 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 25 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: negligible
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
country comparison to the world: 240

Area - comparative:
less than one-eighth the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
0 km

Climate:
tropical, with practically no variation in temperature; has two seasons (dry and humid)

Terrain:
hilly, almost completely surrounded by shallow-water reefs, with plentiful beaches

Elevation:
mean elevation: NA
[see also: Elevation - mean elevation country ranks ]
elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Ocean 0 m highest point: Morne du Vitet 286 m

Natural resources:
few natural resources; beaches foster tourism

Population - distribution:
most of the populace concentrated in and around the capital of Gustavia, but scattered settlements exist around the island periphery

Environment - current issues:
with no natural rivers or streams, fresh water is in short supply, especially in summer, and provided by desalination of sea water, collection of rain water, or imported via water tanker

Geography - note:
a 1,200-hectare marine nature reserve, the Reserve Naturelle, is made up of five zones around the island that form a network to protect the island's coral reefs, seagrass, and endangered marine species