Geography of Antigua and Barbuda

Geography of Antigua and Barbuda

Region	Caribbean
Coordinates	17°03′N 61°48′W / 17.050°N 61.800°W / 17.050; -61.800
Area	Ranked 181st
• Total	442.6 km2 (170.9 sq mi)
• Land	95.33%
• Water	4.67%
Coastline	153 km (95 mi)
Borders	No land borders
Highest point	Boggy Peak 402 meters (1,319 ft)
Lowest point	Atlantic Ocean 0 metres (0 ft)
Longest river	None
Largest lake	Potsworks Reservoir 2.430 ha (6.00 acres)
Terrain	low-lying limestone and coral islands, with some higher volcanic areas
Natural resources	marine resources, cotton
Natural hazards	hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October); periodic droughts
Environmental issues	water management, deforestation
Exclusive economic zone	110,089 km2 (42,506 sq mi)

Antigua and Barbuda lie in the eastern arc of the Leeward Islands of the Lesser Antilles, separating the Atlantic Ocean from the Caribbean Sea.^[1] Antigua is 650 km (400 mi) southeast of Puerto Rico; Barbuda lies 48 km (30 mi) due north of Antigua, and the uninhabited island of Redonda is 56 km (35 mi) southwest of Antigua.^[1]

The largest island of Antigua, is 21 km (about a dozen miles) across and 281 km² (about a hundred square miles) in area.^[1] Barbuda covers 161 km² (62 sq mi) while Redonda encompasses 2.6 km² (1.0 sq mi).^[1] The capital of Antigua and Barbuda is St. John's, located at St. John's Harbour on the northwest coast of Antigua.^[1] The principal city of Barbuda is Codrington, located on Codrington Lagoon.^[1]

In Antigua and Barbuda forest cover is around 18% of the total land area, equivalent to 8,120 hectares (ha) of forest in 2020, down from 10,110 hectares (ha) in 1990.^[2][3]

Antigua and Barbuda both are generally low-lying islands whose terrain has been influenced more by limestone formations than volcanic activity.^[1] The highest point on Antigua is Boggy Peak, the remnant of a volcanic crater rising 402 meters (1,319 ft).^[1] This mountain is located amid a bulge of hills of volcanic origin in the southwestern part of the island.^[1] Lake Estate is the third tallest recorded point on Antigua.^{[citation needed]}

The limestone formations in the northeast and northwest are separated from the southwestern volcanic area by a central plain of clay formations.^[1] The map of northeastern Antigua features several small and tiny islands, some inhabited. Barbuda's highest elevation is 44.5 metres (146 ft), part of the highland plateau east of Codrington.^[1]: 435 The shorelines of both islands are greatly indented with beaches, lagoons, and natural harbors.^[1] The islands are rimmed by reefs and shoals.^[1] There are few streams as rainfall is slight.^[1] Both islands lack adequate amounts of fresh groundwater.^[1] Tiny Redonda rises to 246 metres (807 ft) and has very little level ground, while Barbuda is very flat with few if any hills.^{[citation needed]}

Due to the spread out islands it has an Exclusive Economic Zone of 110,089 km² (42,506 sq mi).^{[citation needed]}

The islands' climate is classified as Tropical Maritime^{[citation needed]} and is moderated by fairly constant northeast tradewinds, with velocities ranging between 30 and 48 km/h (19 and 30 mph).^[1] There is little precipitation because of the islands' low elevations.^[1] The pleasant climate fosters tourism.

Rainfall averages 990 mm (39 in) per year, with the amount varying widely from season to season.^[1] In general the wettest period is between September and November.^[1] The islands generally experience low humidity and recurrent droughts.^[1]

Hurricanes strike on an average of once a year^[1] between July and October.^{[citation needed]} Temperatures average 27 °C (80.6 °F), with a range from 23 °C (73.4 °F) in the winter to 30 °C (86 °F) in the summer and autumn.^[1] On 12 August 1995, a temperature of 34.9 °C (94.8 °F) was recorded at St. John's. This is the highest temperature to have ever been recorded in Antigua and Barbuda.^[4][5] The coolest period is between December and February.^[1]

Location

Antigua and Barbuda are Caribbean islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east-southeast of Puerto Rico.

Geographic coordinates

17°03′N 61°48′W / 17.050°N 61.800°W / 17.050; -61.800

Area

• Total: 442.6 km² (170.9 sq mi) (Antigua 280 km² (110 sq mi); Barbuda 161 km² (62 sq mi))
• country comparison to the world: 205
• Land: 442.6 km² (170.9 sq mi)
• Note: Includes Redonda, 1.6 km² (0.62 sq mi):

Maritime claims

• Territorial sea: 12 nautical miles (22.2 km; 13.8 mi)
• Contiguous zone: 24 nautical miles (44.4 km; 27.6 mi)
• Exclusive economic zone: 110,089 km² (42,506 sq mi) and 200 nautical miles (370.4 km; 230.2 mi)
• Continental shelf: 200 nautical miles (370.4 km; 230.2 mi) or to the edge of the continental margin

Terrain

Mostly low-lying limestone and coral islands, with some higher volcanic areas

Land use

• Arable land: 20.5%
• Permanent crops: 2.3%
• Permanent pasture: 9.1%
• Forest: 22.3%
• Other: 57.2% (2011)

Irrigated land

1.3 km² (0.50 sq mi) (2012)

Total renewable water resources

0.05 km³ (0.012 cu mi) (2011)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

• Total: 0.01 km³ (0.0024 cu mi)/yr (63%/21%/15%)
• Per capita: 97.67 m³ (128 cu yd)/yr (2005)

Environment - current issues

Water management, a major concern because of limited natural fresh water resources, is further hampered by the clearing of trees to increase crop production, causing rainfall to run off quickly

Environment

international agreements

• Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

Geography - note

Antigua has a deeply indented shoreline with many natural harbors and beaches. Antigua's southernmost point is Cape Shirley.

Barbuda has a large western harbor.

• Northernmost point – Boon Point
• Easternmost point - Man of War Point, Green Island
• Easternmost point (mainland only) - Neck of Land
• Southernmost point - Nanton Point
• Southernmost point (including Redonda) - headland on southern coast of Redonda (also the southernmost point in Antigua and Barbuda)
• Westernmost point - Five Islands
• Westernmost point (including Redonda) - headland on Western coast of Redonda (also the westernmost point in Antigua and Barbuda)
• Westernmost point (mainland only) - Pearns Point
• Lowest point: Caribbean Sea: 0 m
• Highest point: Boggy Peak: 402 m (1,319 ft)

• Northernmost point – Goat Point (also the northernmost point in Antigua and Barbuda)
• Easternmost point – unnamed headland on eastern coast (also the easternmost point in Antigua and Barbuda)
• Southernmost point – Coco Point
• Westernmost point – Cedar Tree Point
• Highest point – the northern edge of the eastern plateau (44.5m)^[1]

•  This article incorporates public domain material from The World Factbook. CIA.