Location:
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 4 N, 63 4 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area: Area - comparative: Land boundaries: Coastline: Maritime claims: Climate: Terrain: Elevation: Natural resources: Population - distribution: Natural hazards: Environment - current issues: Geography - note:
total: 34 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 34 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 0 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
note: Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin
country comparison to the world: 237
one-fifth the size of Washington, DC
total: 16 km
[see also: Land boundaries - total country ranks ]
border countries (1): Saint Martin (France) 16 km
58.9 km (for entire island)
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]
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 ]
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
low, hilly terrain, volcanic origin
mean elevation: NA
[see also: Elevation - mean elevation country ranks ]
elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Flagstaff 383 m
fish, salt
most populous areas are Lower Prince's Quarter (north of Philipsburg), followed closely by Cul de Sac
subject to hurricanes from July to November
scarcity of potable water (increasing percentage provided by desalination); inadequate solid waste management; pollution from construction, chemical runoff, and sewage harms reefs
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