Geography of Turks and Caicos Islands
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: 430 sq km land: 430 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) |