| Geography and Climate |
Malta is located in Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy).
Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC.
Climate: Mediterranean with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers. Terrain consists mostly of low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs. Elevation extreme has the lowest point in Mediterranean Sea 0 m and highest point in Dingli Cliffs 245 m. Natural resources are 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.)
Environment—current issues: very limited natural fresh water resources; increasing reliance on desalination.
Geography—note: the country comprises an archipelago, with only the three largest islands (Malta, Gozo, and Comino) being inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors.
Ref. Anonymous, 1999 |
