Land boundaries: total: 275 km border country: Dominican Republic 275 km
Coastline: 1,771 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: to depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: claims US-administered Navassa Island
Climate: tropical; semiarid where mountains in east cut off trade winds
Terrain: mostly rough and mountainous lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Chaine de la Selle 2,680 m
Natural resources: bauxite
Land use:
arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 13%
meadows and pastures: 18%
forest and woodland: 4%
other: 45%
Irrigated land: 750 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: extensive deforestation (much of the remaining
forested land is being cleared for agriculture and use as fuel);
soil erosion; inadequate supplies of potable water
natural hazards: lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and
subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding
and earthquakes; periodic droughts
international agreements: party to - Marine Dumping, Marine Life
Conservation; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear
Test Ban