Geography of Antigua and Barbuda



Antigua and Barbuda lie in the eastern arc of the Leeward Islands of the Lesser Antilles, separating the Atlantic Ocean from the Caribbean Sea. Antigua is 650 km southeast of Puerto Rico; Barbuda lies 48 km due north of Antigua, and the uninhabited island of Redonda is 56 km southwest of Antigua.

The largest island of Antigua, is 21 km (about a dozen miles) across and 281 km2 (about a hundred square miles) in area. Barbuda covers 161 km2 while Redonda encompasses 2.6 km2. The capital of Antigua and Barbuda is St. John's, located at St. John's Harbour on the northwest coast of Antigua. The principal city of Barbuda is Codrington, located on Codrington Lagoon.

Geology
Antigua and Barbuda both are generally low-lying islands whose terrain has been influenced more by limestone formations than volcanic activity. The highest point on Antigua is Boggy Peak, the remnant of a volcanic crater rising 402 meters (1,319 ft). This mountain is located amid a bulge of hills of volcanic origin in the southwestern part of the island. Lake Estate is the third tallest recorded point on Antigua.

The limestone formations in the northeast and northwest are separated from the southwestern volcanic area by a central plain of clay formations. The map of northeastern Antigua features several small and tiny islands, some inhabited. Barbuda's highest elevation is 44.5 m, part of the highland plateau east of Codrington. The shorelines of both islands are greatly indented with beaches, lagoons, and natural harbors. The islands are rimmed by reefs and shoals. There are few streams as rainfall is slight. Both islands lack adequate amounts of fresh groundwater. Tiny Redonda rises to 246 m and has very little level ground, while Barbuda is very flat with few if any hills.

Oceanography
Due to the spread out islands it has an Exclusive Economic Zone of 110,089 km2.

Climate
The islands' climate is classified as Tropical Maritime and is moderated by fairly constant northeast tradewinds, with velocities ranging between 30 and 48 km/h. There is little precipitation because of the islands' low elevations. The pleasant climate fosters tourism.

Rainfall averages 990 mm per year, with the amount varying widely from season to season. In general the wettest period is between September and November. The islands generally experience low humidity and recurrent droughts.

Hurricanes strike on an average of once a year between July and October. Temperatures average 27 °C, with a range from 23 °C in the winter to 30 °C in the summer and autumn. On 12 August 1995, a temperature of 34.9 C was recorded at St. John's. This is the highest temperature to have ever been recorded in Antigua and Barbuda. The coolest period is between December and February.





Statistics

 * Location:
 * Antigua and Barbuda are Caribbean islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east-southeast of Puerto Rico.


 * Geographic coordinates:
 * 17.05°N, -61.8°W


 * Area
 * Total: 442.6 km2 (Antigua 280 km2; Barbuda 161 km2)
 * country comparison to the world: 205
 * Land: 442.6 km2
 * Note: Includes Redonda, 1.6 km2:


 * Maritime claims:
 * Territorial sea: 12 nmi
 * Contiguous zone: 24 nmi
 * Exclusive economic zone: 110,089 km2 and 200 nmi
 * Continental shelf: 200 nmi or to the edge of the continental margin


 * Terrain:Mostly low-lying limestone and coral islands, with some higher volcanic areas
 * Land use
 * Arable land: 20.5%
 * Permanent crops: 2.3%
 * Permanent pasture: 9.1%
 * Forest: 22.3%
 * Other: 57.2% (2011)


 * Irrigated land:1.3 km2 (2012)
 * Total renewable water resources
 * 0.05 km3 (2011)


 * Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)
 * Total: 0.01 km3/yr (63%/21%/15%)
 * Per capita: 97.67 m3/yr (2005)


 * Environment - current issues
 * Water management, a major concern because of limited natural fresh water resources, is further hampered by the clearing of trees to increase crop production, causing rainfall to run off quickly


 * Environment:international agreements
 * Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling


 * Geography - note
 * Antigua has a deeply indented shoreline with many natural harbors and beaches. Antigua's southernmost point is Cape Shirley.
 * Barbuda has a large western harbor.

Antigua

 * Northernmost point – Boon Point
 * Easternmost point - Man of War Point, Green Island
 * Easternmost point (mainland only) - Neck of Land
 * Southernmost point - Nanton Point
 * Southernmost point (including Redonda) - headland on southern coast of Redonda (also the southernmost point in Antigua and Barbuda)
 * Westernmost point - Five Islands
 * Westernmost point (including Redonda) - headland on Western coast of Redonda (also the westernmost point in Antigua and Barbuda)
 * Westernmost point (mainland only) - Pearns Point
 * Lowest point: Caribbean Sea: 0 m
 * Highest point: Boggy Peak: 402 m

Barbuda

 * Northernmost point – Goat Point (also the northernmost point in Antigua and Barbuda)
 * Easternmost point - unnamed headland on eastern coast (also the easternmost point in Antigua and Barbuda)
 * Southernmost point - Coco Point
 * Westernmost point - Cedar Tree Point