Location: | Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique |
| Geographic coordinates: | 20 00 S, 47 00 E |
| Map references: | Africa |
| Area: | total: 587,040 sq km
water: 5,500 sq km
land: 581,540 sq km |
| Area - comparative: | slightly less than twice the size of Arizona |
| Land boundaries: | 0 km |
| Coastline: | 4,828 km |
| Maritime claims: | territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or 100 nm from the 2,500-m deep isobath
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm |
| Climate: | tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south |
| Terrain: | narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center |
| Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Maromokotro 2,876 m |
| Natural resources: | graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower |
| Land use: | arable land: 5.07%
permanent crops: 1.03%
other: 93.91% (2001) |
| Irrigated land: | 10,900 sq km (2000 est.) |
| Natural hazards: | periodic cyclones, drought, and locust infestation |
| Environment - current issues: | soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing; desertification; surface water contaminated with raw sewage and other organic wastes; several species of flora and fauna unique to the island are endangered |
| Environment - international agreements: | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
| Geography - note: | world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique Channel
Source: CIA World Factbook
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