Geography of Turks and Caicos Islands

Location: Caribbean, two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas, north of Haiti.

Geographic coordinates: 21 45 N, 71 35 W

Area: total: 948 sq km; land: 948 sq km; water: 0 sq km

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 389 km

Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm; exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate: tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry

Terrain: low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Flamingo Hill 48 m

Natural resources: spiny lobster, conch

Land use: arable land: 2.33%; permanent crops: 0%; other: 97.67% (2005)

Irrigated land: NA

Natural hazards: frequent hurricanes

Environment - current issues: limited natural fresh water resources, private cisterns collect rainwater

Geography - note: about 40 islands (eight inhabited).