Geography of Jamaica

This article describes the geography of Jamaica.

Location -
Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba

Geographic coordinates -
:

Map references -
: Central America and the Caribbean

Area -
:* Total: 10,990 km²
:* Land: 10,830 km²
:* Water: 160 km²

Area--comparative -
: Slightly smaller than Connecticut

Land boundaries -
: 0 km

Coastline -
: 1,022 km

Maritime claims -
:* Measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
:* Continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
:* Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
:* Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate -
: Tropical; hot, humid; temperate interior

Terrain -
: Mostly mountains, with narrow, discontinuous coastal plain

Elevation extremes -
:* Lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
:* Highest point: Blue Mountain Peak 2,256 m

Natural resources -
: Bauxite, gypsum, limestone

Land use -
:* Arable land: 14%
:* Permanent crops: 6%
:* Permanent pastures: 24%
:* Forests and woodland: 17%
:* Other: 39% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land -
: 350 km² (1993 est.)

Natural hazards -
: Hurricanes (especially July to November)

Environment--current issues -
: Heavy rates of deforestation; coastal waters polluted by industrial waste, sewage, and oil spills; damage to coral reefs; air pollution in Kingston results from vehicle emissions

Environment--international agreements -
:* Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
:* Signed, but not ratified: None of the selected agreements

Geography--note -
: Strategic location between Cayman Trench and Jamaica Channel, the main sea lanes for Panama Canal

See also: Jamaica

Cities