Cuba Geography Profile 2008

Location

Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, 150 km south of Key West, Florida

Geographic coordinates

21 30 N, 80 00 W

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Area

total: 110,860 sq km
land: 110,860 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Land boundaries

total: 29 km
border countries: US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay 29 km
note: Guantanamo Naval Base is leased by the US and remains part of Cuba

Coastline

3,735 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate

tropical; moderated by trade winds; dry season (November to April); rainy season (May to October)

Terrain

mostly flat to rolling plains, with rugged hills and mountains in the southeast

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Pico Turquino 2,005 m

Natural resources

cobalt, nickel, iron ore, chromium, copper, salt, timber, silica, petroleum, arable land

Land use

arable land: 27.63%
permanent crops: 6.54%
other: 65.83% (2005)

Irrigated land

8,700 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources

38.1 cu km (2000)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 8.2 cu km/yr (19%/12%/69%)
per capita: 728 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards

the east coast is subject to hurricanes from August to November (in general, the country averages about one hurricane every other year); droughts are common

Environment - current issues

air and water pollution; biodiversity loss; deforestation

Environment - international agreements

party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note

largest country in Caribbean and westernmost island of the Greater Antilles