Geography

Location: island in the Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba

Area: total: 10,991 sq km, land: 10,831 sq km, water: 160 sq km

Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Connecticut

Climate: tropical; hot, humid; temperate interior

Terrain: mostly mountains, with narrow, discontinuous coastal plain

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

highest point: Blue Mountain Peak 2,256 m

Natural resources: bauxite, gypsum, limestone

Land use: arable land: 15.83%

permanent crops: 10.01%

other: 74.16% (2005)

Irrigated land:   250 sq km (2002)

Natural hazards: hurricanes (especially July to November)