Geography of Sri Lanka (original) (raw)

**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
_land:_64,740 sq km
_water:_870 sq km

**Area - comparative:**slightly larger than West Virginia

**Land boundaries:**0 km

**Coastline:**1,340 km

Maritime claims:
_contiguous zone:_24 nm
_continental shelf:_200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
_exclusive economic zone:_200 nm
_territorial sea:_12 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:_14%
_permanent crops:_15%
_permanent pastures:_7%
_forests and woodland:_32%
_other:_32% (1993 est.)

**Irrigated land:**5,500 sq km (1993 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, 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

Geography notes

See also : Sri Lanka