| Location: |
Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique
|
| Geographic coordinates: |
20 00 S, 47 00 E
|
| Area: |
total:
587,040 sq km
land:
581,540 sq km
water:
5,500 sq km
|
| Area - comparative: |
slightly less than twice the size of Arizona
|
| Maritime claims: |
contiguous zone:
24 NM
continental shelf:
200 NM or 100 NM from the 2,500-m deep isobath
exclusive economic zone:
200 NM
territorial sea:
12 NM
|
| Climate: |
tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south
|
| Terrain: |
narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center
|
| Elevation extremes: |
lowest point:
Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point:
Maromokotro 2,876 m
|
| Natural resources: |
graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower
|
| Land use: |
arable land:
4%
permanent crops:
1%
permanent pastures:
41%
forests and woodland:
40%
other:
14% (1993 est.)
|
| Irrigated land: |
10,870 sq km (1993 est.)
|
| Natural hazards: |
periodic cyclones
|
| Environment - current issues: |
soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing; desertification; surface water contaminated with raw sewage and other organic wastes; several species of flora and fauna unique to the island are endangered
|
| Environment - international agreements: |
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:
Law of the Sea
|
| Geography - note: |
world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique Channel
|
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