Contiguous zone: 24 nm;
Continental shelf: edge of continental margin or 200 nm;
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;
Territorial sea: 12 nm
_#_Climate: tropical; monsoonal; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to October)
_#_Terrain: mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interior
_#_Natural resources: limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates, clay
_#_Land use: arable land 16%; permanent crops 17%; meadows and pastures 7%; forest and woodland 37%; other 23%; includes irrigated 8%
_#_Environment: occasional cyclones, tornados; deforestation; soil erosion
_#_Note: only 29 km from India across the Palk Strait; near major Indian Ocean sea lanes