| Geography | Sri Lanka |
 = Fields  = World Records  = Dictionary  = Bar graph  = Distribution map  = Fields History  = Definitions |
|
|
|
|
|
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: 64,630 sq km
water: 980 sq km |
Area - comparative:
|
slightly larger than West Virginia |
Land boundaries:
|
0 km |
Coastline:
|
1,340 km |
Maritime claims:
|
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin |
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: 13.96%
permanent crops: 15.24%
other: 70.8% (2005) |
Irrigated land:
|
7,430 sq km (2003) |
Total renewable water resources:
|
50 cu km (1999) |
Total renewable water resources - per capita:
|
2,345 cubic meters per capita |
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
|
total: 12.61 cu km/yr (2%/2%/95%)
per capita: 608 cu m/yr (2000) |
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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation |
Geography - note:
|
strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes |
|
= Fields = World Records = Dictionary = Bar graph = Distribution map = Fields History = Definitions |
|
Home 
Geographic Names
Chiefs of State
Intl. Organizations
Intl. Environmental Agree.
Other References
