Geography of Anguilla

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Anguilla
Map of Anguilla
Continent North America
Subregion Caribbean
Geographic coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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 (July to October)
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:

Districts

Anguilla is divided into fourteen districts:

District Population (2011)[1]
Blowing Point 870
East End 671
George Hill 879
Island Harbour 988
North Hill 464
North Side 1980
Sandy Ground 230
Sandy Hill 636
South Hill 1722
Stoney Ground 1549
The Farrington 624
The Quarter 959
The Valley 1067
West End 813

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.

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)
Average 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[2]

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

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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