| Geography | Malta |
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Location:
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Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy) |
Geographic coordinates:
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35 50 N, 14 35 E |
Map references:
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Europe |
Area:
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total: 316 sq km
land: 316 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
Area - comparative:
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slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC |
Land boundaries:
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0 km |
Coastline:
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196.8 km (excludes 56.01 km for the island of Gozo) |
Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 25 nm |
Climate:
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Mediterranean; mild, rainy winters; hot, dry summers |
Terrain:
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mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs |
Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Ta'Dmejrek 253 m (near Dingli) |
Natural resources:
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limestone, salt, arable land |
Land use:
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arable land: 31.25%
permanent crops: 3.13%
other: 65.62% (2005) |
Irrigated land:
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20 sq km (2003) |
Total renewable water resources:
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0.07 cu km (2005) |
Total renewable water resources - per capita:
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173 cubic meters per capita |
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
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Total: 0.02 cu km/yr (74%/1%/25%)
Per capita: 50 cu m/yr (2000) |
Natural hazards:
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NA |
Environment - current issues:
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limited natural fresh water resources; increasing reliance on desalination |
Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
Geography - note:
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the country comprises an archipelago, with only the three largest islands (Malta, Ghawdex or Gozo, and Kemmuna or Comino) being inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors; Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration |
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