Man, Isle of Geography Profile 2001

Location

Western Europe, island in the Irish Sea, between Great Britain and Ireland

Geographic coordinates

54 15 N, 4 30 W

Map references

Europe

Area

total: 572 sq km

land: 572 sq km

water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly more than three times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries

0 km

Coastline

160 km

Maritime claims

exclusive fishing zone: 12 NM

territorial sea: 12 NM

Climate

cool summers and mild winters; temperate; overcast about one-third of the time

Terrain

hills in north and south bisected by central valley

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Irish Sea 0 m

highest point: Snaefell 621 m

Natural resources

none

Land use

arable land: 9%

permanent crops: 0%

permanent pastures: 46%

forests and woodland: 6%

other: 39% (includes 25% mountain and heathland)

Irrigated land

0 sq km

Natural hazards

NA

Environment - current issues

waste disposal (both household and industrial); transboundary air pollution

Geography - note

one small islet, the Calf of Man, lies to the southwest, and is a bird sanctuary