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Malta Geography Profile

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LocationSouthern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy)
Geographic coordinates35 50 N, 14 35 E
Map referencesEurope
Areatotal: 316 sq km

land: 316 sq km

water: 0 sq km
Area - comparativeslightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundariestotal: 0 km
Coastline196.8 km (excludes 56 km for the island of Gozo)
Maritime claimsterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

exclusive fishing zone: 25 nm
ClimateMediterranean; mild, rainy winters; hot, dry summers
Terrainmostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs
Elevation extremeshighest point: Ta'Dmejrek on Dingli Cliffs 253 m

lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
Natural resourceslimestone, salt, arable land
Land useagricultural land: 32.3% (2018 est.)

arable land: 28.4% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 3.9% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)

forest: 0.9% (2018 est.)

other: 66.8% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land35 sq km (2012)
Total renewable water resources50.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Natural hazardsoccasional droughts
Geography - notethe country comprises an archipelago, with only the three largest islands (Malta, Ghawdex or Gozo, and Kemmuna or Comino) inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors; Malta and Tunisia are discussing oil exploration on the continental shelf between their countries, although no commercially viable reserves have been found as of 2017

Source: CIA World Factbook
This page was last updated on September 18, 2021