This article describes the geography of Anguilla.
| Continent | North America |
| Subregion | Caribbean |
| Geographic coordinates | |
| Area - Total - Water |
Ranked 220th 102 km² 0 km |
| Coastline | 61 km |
| Land boundaries | 0 km |
| Countries bordered | none |
| Highest point | Crocus Hill, 65 m |
| Lowest point | Caribbean Sea, 0 m |
| Longest river | none |
| Largest inland body of water | |
| Land Use - Arable land - Permanent crops - Other |
0 % 0 % 100 % (2005 est.) |
| Irrigated Land: N/A | |
| Climate: | tropical |
| Terrain: | flat and low-lying island of coral and limestone |
| Natural resources | salt, fish, lobster |
| Natural hazards | hurricanes, tropical storms (July to October) |
| Environmental issues | low water supplies |
Anguilla is one of the Leeward Islands, which lie between the Caribbean Sea in the west and the open Atlantic Ocean in the east. It is a long, flat, dry/wet, scrub-covered coral island, south and east of Puerto Rico and north of the Windward chain. It is an island of no significant elevations with its terrain consisting entirely of beaches, dunes, and low limestone bluffs.
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Anguilla’s highest elevation, Crocus Hill, is 65 m (213 ft). Crocus Hill is among the cliffs that line the northern shore.
The numerous bays — Barnes, Little, Rendezvous, Shoal, and Road—lure many vacationers to this tropical island. The coast and the beautiful, pristine beaches are integral to the tourism-based economy of Anguilla. Because of Anguilla’s warm climate, the beaches can be used year-round.
Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, east of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates: 18 15 N, 63 10 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
Area - comparative: about half the size of Washington DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 61 km
Maritime claims:
Climate: tropical moderated by northeast trade winds
Terrain: flat and low-lying island of coral and limestone
Elevation extremes:
Natural resources: salt, fish, lobster
Land use:
Irrigated land: NA
Natural hazards: frequent hurricanes and other tropical storms (July to October)
Environment - current issues: supplies of potable water sometimes cannot meet increasing demand largely because of poor distribution system.
The territory of Anguilla consists of the island of Anguilla itself (by far the largest), as well as numerous other islands and cays, most of which are very small and uninhabited. These include:
Anguilla is divided into fourteen districts:
Anguilla features a tropical wet and dry climate under the Koppen climate classification. The city has a rather dry climate, moderated by northeast trade winds. Temperatures vary little throughout the year. Average daily maxima range from about 27 °C (80.6 °F) in December to 30 °C (86 °F) in July. Rainfall is erratic, averaging about 900 mm (35.4 in) per year, the wettest months being September and October, and the driest February and March. Anguilla is vulnerable to hurricanes from June to November, peak season August to mid-October. The island suffered damage in 1995 from Hurricane Luis.
| Climate data for The Valley - capital of Anguilla | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 28 (82) |
28 (82) |
28 (82) |
28 (82) |
30 (86) |
31 (88) |
31 (88) |
31 (88) |
31 (88) |
30 (86) |
29 (84) |
28 (82) |
30 (86) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 26 (79) |
26 (79) |
26 (79) |
27 (81) |
27 (81) |
28 (82) |
29 (84) |
29 (84) |
29 (84) |
28 (82) |
27 (81) |
26 (79) |
27 (81) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 23 (73) |
23 (73) |
23 (73) |
25 (77) |
25 (77) |
26 (79) |
26 (79) |
26 (79) |
26 (79) |
26 (79) |
25 (77) |
24 (75) |
23 (73) |
| Precipitation cm (inches) | 7 (2.8) |
4 (1.6) |
4 (1.6) |
7 (2.8) |
9 (3.5) |
7 (2.8) |
8 (3.1) |
11 (4.3) |
11 (4.3) |
9 (3.5) |
11 (4.3) |
9 (3.5) |
102 (40.2) |
| Source: Weatherbase[1] | |||||||||||||
Anguilla’s coral and limestone terrain provide no subsistence possibilities for forests, woodland, pastures, crops, or arable lands. Its dry climate and thin soil hamper commercial agricultural development.
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