| Location | Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India |
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| Geographic coordinates | 7 00 N, 81 00 E |
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| Zone | Asia |
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| Area | total: 65,610 sq km
land: 64,740 sq km
water: 870 sq km |
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| Land boundaries | 0 km |
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| Coastline | 1,340 km |
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| Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin |
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| Climate | tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to October) |
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| Terrain | mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interior |
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| Elevation extremes | lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pidurutalagala 2,524 m |
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| Natural resources | limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates, clay, hydropower |
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| Irrigated land | 1,340 km |
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| Natural hazards | occasional cyclones and tornadoes |
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Environment -
current issues | deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by poaching and urbanization; coastal degradation from mining activities and increased pollution; freshwater resources being polluted by industrial wastes and sewage runoff; waste disposal; air pollution in Colombo |
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Environment -
international agreements | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation |
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| Geography - note | strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes |
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