Geographic coordinates: 13 50 N, 88 55 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total:
21,040 km²
land:
20,720 km²
water:
320 km²
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Massachusetts
Land boundaries:
total:
545 km
border countries:
Guatemala 203 km, Honduras 342 km
Coastline: 307 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea:
200 nm
Climate: tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November to April); tropical on coast; temperate in uplands
Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateau
Elevation extremes:
lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point:
Cerro El Pital 2,730 m
Natural resources: hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum, arable land
Land use:
arable land:
27%
permanent crops:
8%
permanent pastures:
29%
forests and woodland:
5%
other:
31% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,200 km² (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and sometimes very destructive earthquakes and volcanic activity, also destructive hurricanes are very common.
Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; contamination of soils from disposal of toxic wastes; Hurricane Mitch damage
Environment - international agreements:
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:
Law of the Sea
Geography - note: smallest Central American country and only one without a coastline on Caribbean Sea