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| Location: |
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic
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| Geographic coordinates: |
18 15 N, 66 30 W
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| Map references: |
Central America and the Caribbean
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| Area: |
total:
9,104 sq km
land:
8,959 sq km
water:
145 sq km
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| Area - comparative: |
slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island
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| Maritime claims: |
exclusive economic zone:
200 NM
territorial sea:
12 NM
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| Climate: |
tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation
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| Terrain: |
mostly mountains, with coastal plain belt in north; mountains precipitous to sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal areas
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| Elevation extremes: |
lowest point:
Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point:
Cerro de Punta 1,338 m
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| Natural resources: |
some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil
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| Land use: |
arable land:
4%
permanent crops:
5%
permanent pastures:
26%
forests and woodland:
16%
other:
49% (1993 est.)
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| Irrigated land: |
390 sq km (1993 est.)
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| Natural hazards: |
periodic droughts; hurricanes
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| Environment - current issues: |
erosion; occasional drought causing water shortages
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| Geography - note: |
important location along the Mona Passage - a key shipping lane to the Panama Canal; San Juan is one of the biggest and best natural harbors in the Caribbean; many small rivers and high central mountains ensure land is well watered; south coast relatively dry; fertile coastal plain belt in north
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