Isle of Man Geography Profile 2009

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

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm

Climate

temperate; cool summers and mild winters; overcast about a 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%
other: 91% (permanent pastures, forests, mountain, and heathland) (2002)

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