Location Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy)

Geographic coordinates 35 50 N, 14 35 E

Map references Europe

Area
total: 320 sq km
land: 320 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries 0 km

Coastline 140 km

Maritime claims
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 25 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate Mediterranean with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers

Terrain mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs

Elevation extremes
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Dingli Cliffs 245 m

Natural resources limestone, salt

Land use
arable land: 38%
permanent crops: 3%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: 59% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land 10 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards NA

Environment - current issues very limited natural fresh water resources; increasing reliance on desalination

Environment - international agreements
party to: Air Pollution, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography - note the country comprises an archipelago, with only the three largest islands (Malta, Gozo, and Comino) being inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors

NOTE: The information regarding Malta on this page is re-published from the 1998 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Malta Geography 1998 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Malta Geography 1998 should be addressed to the CIA.