Geography of the Netherlands Antilles

The Netherlands Antilles are in the Caribbean Sea. It consists of two island groups, one including Curacao and Bonaire, just north of Venezuela, and the other east of the Virgin Islands.

Its geographical coordinates are 12 15 N, 68 45 W. The Netherlands Antilles has 960 sq. km. of land, including no major lakes or other bodies of water.

Territory includes the islands of Curacao, Bonaire, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten (which is the Dutch part of Saint Martin). Its only land boundary is with Guadeloupe on the island of Saint Martin, which is 10.2 kilometers in length. The Netherlands Antilles has 364 kilometers of coastline.

Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; ameliorated by northeast trade winds

Terrain: generally hilly, volcanic interiors

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Scenery 862 m

Natural resources: phosphates (Curacao only), salt (Bonaire only)

Land use:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 90% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: Curacao and Bonaire are south of Caribbean hurricane belt and are rarely threatened; Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius are subject to hurricanes from July to October

Environment - current issues: NA

See also : Netherlands Antilles