Geography of Anguilla

Anguilla

Continent	North America
Subregion	Caribbean
Geographic coordinates	18°15′N 63°10′W / 18.250°N 63.167°W / 18.250; -63.167
Area  - Total  - Water	Ranked 227th 91 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	Road Bay Pond
Land Use  - Arable land  - Permanent    crops  - Other	0 % 0 % 100 % (2012 est.)
Irrigated Land: N/A
Climate:	tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds
Terrain:	flat and low-lying island of coral and limestone
Natural resources	salt, fish, lobster
Natural hazards	hurricanes, tropical storms (June to November)
Environmental issues	low water supplies

This article describes the geography of Anguilla.

Anguilla is an island in the Leeward Islands, which lies 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. One of the Renaissance Islands, it is separated from the British Virgin Islands by the Anegada Passage. The island has no significant elevations with its terrain consisting entirely of beaches, dunes, and low limestone bluffs.

Hills

Anguilla’s highest elevation, Crocus Hill, is 65 m (213 ft). Crocus Hill is among the cliffs that line the northern shore.

Coastline

The numerous bays, including Barnes, Little, Rendezvous, Shoal, and Road Bays, 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.

Statistics

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:

• total: 91 km² (35 sq mi)
• land: 91 km² (35 sq mi)
• water: 0 km² (0 sq mi)

Area - comparative: about half the size of Washington DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 61 km

Maritime claims:

• exclusive fishing zone: 200 nmi (370.4 km; 230.2 mi)
• territorial sea: 3 nmi (5.6 km; 3.5 mi)

Climate: tropical moderated by northeast trade winds

Terrain: flat and low-lying island of coral and limestone

Elevation extremes:

• lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
• highest point: Crocus Hill 65 m

Natural resources: salt, fish, lobster

Land use:

• arable land: 0%
• permanent crops: 0%
• permanent pastures: 0%
• forests and woodland: 0%
• other: 100% (mostly rock with sparse scrub oak,trees, some commercial salt ponds)

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.

Islands and cays

Anguilla islands and cays

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:

• Anguillita
• Blowing Rock
• Cove Cay
• Crocus Cay
• Deadman's Cay
• Dog Island
• East Cay
• Little Island
• Little Scrub Island
• Mid Cay
• North Cay
• Prickly Pear Cays
• Rabbit Island
• Sandy Island, also known as Sand Island
• Scilly Cay
• Scrub Island
• Seal Island
• Sombrero, also known as Hat Island
• South Cay
• South Wager Island
• West Cay

Districts

Anguilla is divided into fourteen districts:

Climate

Anguilla features a tropical wet and dry climate under the Köppen 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.

Vegetation

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.

See also

• Wikimedia Atlas of Anguilla

References

External links

• Caribbean-On-Line.com provides detailed maps of Anguilla.
• Districts of Anguilla, Statoids.com
• Anguilla 2001 Census, Government of Anguilla