Geography of Malta

Malta is an archipelago of coralline limestone, located in the Mediterranean Sea, ~93 km south of Sicily, Italy, Europe; and ~300km north of Africa. Only the three largest islands Malta, Gozo, and Comino are inhabited. The country is ~316 km² in area. Numerous bays along the indented coastline of the islands provide good harbours. The landscape of the islands is characterised by low hills with terraced fields. The highest point, at 253 m, is the Ta' Dmejrek on Malta Island. The capital is Valletta.

Geographic coordinates: 35 50 N, 14 35 E

Map references: Europe

Area:
total: 316 km²
land: 316 km²
water: 0 km²

Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 140 km

Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nautical miles
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 25 nautical miles
territorial sea: 12 nautical miles

Climate: Mediterranean with mild, rainy winters and 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)

Natural resources: limestone, salt, arable land

Land use:
arable land: 38%
permanent crops: 3%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 59% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 10 km² (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: NA

Environment - current issues: very limited natural fresh water resources; increasing reliance on desalination

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

See also : Malta