Malta

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: 316 sq km land: 316 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative	slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries	0 km
Coastline	196.8 km (excludes 56 km for the island of Gozo)
Maritime claims	territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 25 nm
Climate	Mediterranean; mild, rainy winters; hot, dry summers
Terrain	mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs
Elevation extremes	lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Ta'Dmejrek 253 m (near Dingli)
Natural resources	limestone, salt, arable land
Land use	arable land: 31.25% permanent crops: 3.13% other: 65.62% (2005)
Irrigated land	32 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources	0.07 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)	total: 0.02 cu km/yr (74%/1%/25%) per capita: 50 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards	NA
Environment - current issues	limited natural freshwater resources; increasing reliance on desalination
Environment - international agreements	party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note	the country comprises an archipelago, with only the three largest islands (Malta, Ghawdex or Gozo, and Kemmuna or Comino) being inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors; Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration