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Malta: Malta Geography Profile 2012

2012/03/19

Malta Geography Profile 2012

Malta is an island country in the Mediterranean Sea, between the southern tip of Italy and North Africa. It consists of Malta, Gozo and Comino islands and several islets, with a total area of 122 square miles (316 km²). The terrain is moderately hilly and stony, the highest elevation is 831 feet (253 m) on the island of Malta.

Location:

Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy)

Geographic coordinates:

35 50 N, 14 35 E

Map references:

Europe

Area

Total:

316 sq km

Comparison to the world:

207

Land:

316 sq km

Water:

0 sq km

Note:

Area comparative:

slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries Total:

0 km

Land boundaries Note:

Border countries

Countries:

Coastline

Value:

196.8 km (excludes 56.01 km for the island of Gozo)

Note:

Maritime claims

Territorial sea:

12 nm

Exclusive economic zone:

Climate:

Mediterranean; mild, rainy winters; hot, dry summers

Terrain:

mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs

Elevation extremes

Lowest point:

Mediterranean Sea 0 m

Highest point:

Ta'Dmejrek 253 m (near Dingli)

Note:

Natural resources:

limestone, salt, arable land

Land use

Kind:

arable land

Percentage:

31.25%

Year:

2005

Note:

Kind:

permanent crops

Percentage:

3.13%

Note:

Kind:

other

Percentage:

65,62%

Note:

Irrigated land

Value:

20 sq km

Year:

2003

Total renewable water resources

Value:

0.07 cu km

Year:

2005

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

Total:

0.02 cu km/yr (74%/1%/25%)

Per capital:

50 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

Environment - current issues:

limited natural fresh water resources; increasing reliance on desalination

Environment - international agreements

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:

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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