Turks and Caicos Islands Geography Profile 2009

Location

Caribbean, two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas, north of Haiti

Geographic coordinates

21 45 N, 71 35 W

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Area

total: 948 sq km
land: 948 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries

0 km

Coastline

389 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate

tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry

Terrain

low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Blue Hills 49 m

Natural resources

spiny lobster, conch

Land use

arable land: 2.33%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 97.67% (2005)

Irrigated land

NA

Natural hazards

frequent hurricanes

Environment - current issues

limited natural fresh water resources, private cisterns collect rainwater

Geography - note

about 40 islands (eight inhabited)