Location: | Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India |
| Geographic coordinates: | 7 00 N, 81 00 E |
| Map references: | Asia |
| Area: | total: 65,610 sq km
water: 870 sq km
land: 64,740 sq km |
| Area - comparative: | slightly larger than West Virginia |
| Land boundaries: | 0 km |
| Coastline: | 1,340 km |
| Maritime claims: | territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm |
| Climate: | tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to October) |
| Terrain: | mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interior |
| Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pidurutalagala 2,524 m |
| Natural resources: | limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates, clay, hydropower |
| Land use: | arable land: 13.86%
permanent crops: 15.7%
other: 70.44% (2001) |
| Irrigated land: | 6,510 sq km (1998 est.) |
| Natural hazards: | occasional cyclones and tornadoes |
| Environment - current issues: | deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by poaching and urbanization; coastal degradation from mining activities and increased pollution; freshwater resources being polluted by industrial wastes and sewage runoff; waste disposal; air pollution in Colombo |
| 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, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation |
| Geography - note: | strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes
Source: CIA World Factbook
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