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Geography of Dominica

Location:Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates:15 25 N, 61 20 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 754 sq km
land: 754 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:148 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds; heavy rainfall
Terrain:rugged mountains of volcanic origin
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Morne Diablatins 1,447 m
Natural resources:timber, hydropower, arable land
Land use:arable land: 6.67%
permanent crops: 21.33%
other: 72% (2005)
Irrigated land:NA
Natural hazards:flash floods are a constant threat; destructive hurricanes can be expected during the late summer months
Environment - current issues:NA
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:known as "The Nature Island of the Caribbean" due to its spectacular, lush, and varied flora and fauna, which are protected by an extensive natural park system; the most mountainous of the Lesser Antilles, its volcanic peaks are cones of lava craters and include Boiling Lake, the second-largest, thermally active lake in the world

Dominica Quickstats

  • Population: 72,386 (July 2007 est.)
  • Area: 754 sq km
  • Density:
  • GDP (total): $485 million (2006 est.)
  • GDP (per capita): $3,800 (2005 est.)
  • Literacy: 94%

Languages of Dominica

Useful to know

  • Currency: East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
  • Dial code: +1 767

International Trade

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