 |
 |
Geography |
|
|
| Location |
Southern
Asia, Island in the Indian Ocean, south of India |
| Geographic
Coordination |
7
00 N, 81 00 E |
| 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 |
| 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
|
| Natural
Resources |
Limestone,
graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates, clay, hydropower.
(2004) |
| Land
Use |
Arable
land: 13%
Permanent crops: 16%
Other: 71% (2004) |
| Irrigated
Land |
6,510
sq km (2004) |
| 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.(2004) |
| Environment
- International Agreements |
Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of
the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Wetlands
Signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation (2004) |
| Source:
www.countryreports.org |
|
