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Location:
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Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, 150 km south of Key West, Florida
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Geographic coordinates:
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21 30 N, 80 00 W
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Map references:
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Central America and the Caribbean
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Area:
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total: 110,860 sq km
land: 110,860 sq km
water: 0 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
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Land boundaries:
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total: 29 km
border countries: US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay 29 km
note: Guantanamo Naval Base is leased by the US and remains part of Cuba
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Coastline:
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3,735 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
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Climate:
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tropical; moderated by trade winds; dry season (November to April); rainy season (May to October)
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Terrain:
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mostly flat to rolling plains, with rugged hills and mountains in the southeast
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Pico Turquino 2,005 m
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Natural resources:
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cobalt, nickel, iron ore, chromium, copper, salt, timber, silica, petroleum, arable land
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Land use:
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arable land: 27.63%
permanent crops: 6.54%
other: 65.83% (2005)
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Irrigated land:
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8,700 sq km (2003)
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Total renewable water resources:
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38.1 cu km (2000)
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Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
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total: 8.2 cu km/yr (19%/12%/69%)
per capita: 728 cu m/yr (2000)
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Natural hazards:
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the east coast is subject to hurricanes from August to November (in general, the country averages about one hurricane every other year); droughts are common
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Environment - current issues:
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air and water pollution; biodiversity loss; deforestation
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
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Geography - note:
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largest country in Caribbean and westernmost island of the Greater Antilles
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