Location: Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India
Geographic coordinates: 24 00 N, 90 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area:
total:
144,000 kmē
land:
133,910 kmē
water:
10,090 kmē
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Wisconsin
Land boundaries:
total:
4,246 km
border countries:
Burma 193 km, India 4,053 km
Coastline: 580 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
18 nautical miles
continental shelf:
up to the outer limits of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone:
200 nautical miles
territorial sea:
12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical; cool, dry winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); cool, rainy monsoon (June to October)
Terrain: mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point:
Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point:
Keokradong 1,230 m
Natural resources: natural gas, arable land, timber
Land use:
arable land:
73%
permanent crops:
2%
permanent pastures:
5%
forests and woodland:
15%
other:
5% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 31,000 kmē (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: droughts, cyclones; much of the country routinely flooded during the summer monsoon season
Environment - current issues: many people are landless and forced to live on and cultivate flood-prone land; limited access to potable water; water-borne diseases prevalent; water pollution especially of fishing areas results from the use of commercial pesticides; intermittent water shortages because of falling water tables in the northern and central parts of the country; soil degradation; deforestation; severe overpopulation
Environment - international agreements:
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:
Law of the Sea
Reference
Much of the material in this article comes from the CIA World Factbook 2000 and the 2003 U.S. Department of State website.