LocationNorthern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Panama and Venezuela, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Ecuador and Panama Geographic coordinates4 00 N, 72 00 W Map referencesSouth America Areatotal: 1,138,910 sq km Area - comparativeslightly less than twice the size of Texas Land boundariestotal: 6,309 km Coastline3,208 km (Caribbean Sea 1,760 km, North Pacific Ocean 1,448 km) Maritime claimsterritorial sea: 12 nm Climatetropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands Terrainflat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes Mountains, eastern lowland plains Elevation extremeslowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m Natural resourcespetroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold, copper, emeralds, hydropower Land usearable land: 2.01% Irrigated land9,000 sq km (2003) Total renewable water resources2,132 cu km (2000) Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)total: 10.71 cu km/yr (50%/4%/46%) Natural hazardshighlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional earthquakes; periodic droughts Environment - current issuesdeforestation; soil and water quality damage from overuse of pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle emissions Environment - international agreementsparty to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands Geography - noteonly South American country with coastlines on both the North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea |
|
|
Source: CIA World Factbook | |