| Location | Caribbean, an island in the Caribbean Sea, 55 km off the coast of Venezuela |
| Geographic coordinates | 12 10 N, 69 00 W |
| Map references | Central America and the Caribbean |
| Area | total: 444 sq km land: 444 sq km water: 0 sq km |
| Area - comparative | more than twice the size of Washington, DC |
| Land boundaries | 0 km |
| Coastline | 364 km |
| Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
| Climate | tropical marine climate, ameliorated by northeast trade winds, results in mild temperatures; semiarid with average rainfall of 60 cm/year |
| Terrain | generally low, hilly terrain |
| Elevation extremes | mean elevation: NA elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mt. Christoffel 372 m |
| Natural resources | calcium phosphates, aloes, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables, tropical fruit |
| Land use | agricultural land: 10% arable land 10%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 0% forest: 0% other: 90% (2011 est.) |
| Irrigated land | NA |
| Population distribution | largest concentration on the island is Willemstad; smaller settlements near the coast can be found throughout the island, particularly in the northwest |
| Natural hazards | Curacao is south of the Caribbean hurricane belt and is rarely threatened |
| Environment - current issues | problems in waste management that threaten environmental sustainability on the island include pollution of marine areas from domestic sewage, inadequate sewage treatment facilities, industrial effluents and agricultural runoff, the management of toxic substances, and ineffective regulations |
| Geography - note | Curacao is a part of the Windward Islands (southern) group in the Lesser Antilles |
Source: CIA World Factbook
This page was last updated on January 20, 2018
