Geography of Malta

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Geography of Malta

Satellite image of Malta
Continent	Europe
Region	Southern Europe
Coordinates	35°54′N 14°31′E  /  35.900°N 14.517°E  / 35.900; 14.517
Area	Ranked 186th
? Total	316 km 2 (122 sq mi)
? Land	100%
? Water	0%
Highest point	Ta' Dmejrek
Lowest point	Mediterranean Sea

The geography of Malta is dominated by water. Malta is an archipelago of coralline limestone , located in Europe , in the Mediterranean Sea , 81 kilometres south of Sicily , Italy , ^[1] and nearly 300 km north (Libya) and northeast (Tunisia) of Africa . Although Malta is situated in Southern Europe , it is located farther south than Tunis , capital of Tunisia , Algiers , capital of Algeria , Tangier in Morocco and also Aleppo in Syria , and Mosul in Iraq in the Middle East . Only the three largest islands – Malta , Gozo and Comino – are inhabited. Other (uninhabited) islands are: Cominotto , Filfla and the St.Paul's Islands . The country is approximately 316 km ² (122 sq mi) in area. Numerous bays along the indented coastline of the islands provide harbours. The landscape of the islands is characterised by high hills with terraced fields. The highest point, at 253 metres, Ta' Zuta on mainland Malta. The capital is Valletta .

Statistics [ edit ]

Malta has a total area of 315.718 km ² , ^[2] with land making up 315.718 km ² and water taking up zero area. Compared to other political entities, this makes Malta:

• (Australia) slightly less than one-seventh the Australian Capital Territory's size;
• (Canada) roughly one-eighteenth Prince Edward Island's size;
• (UK) slightly smaller than the Isle of Wight;
• (US) slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC.

Excluding 56 km from the island of Gozo, Malta has a coastline of 196.8 km. Its maritime claims of territorial sea are 12 nmi (22.2 km; 13.8 mi), contiguous zone is 24  nmi (44.4 km; 27.6 mi), continental shelf is 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation, and Malta's exclusive fishing zone spans 25 nmi (46.3 km; 28.8 mi).

Islands [ edit ]

Name	Area	Note/ coordinates	Image
Malta Island	246 km 2 [2]	35°52′55″N 14°26′57″E  /  35.88182°N 14.44908°E  / 35.88182; 14.44908  ( Malta ) [3]
Gozo (Għawdex)	67.1 km 2 [2]	36°02′58″N 14°15′00″E  /  36.04944°N 14.25°E  / 36.04944; 14.25  ( Gozo ) [3]
Comino (Kemmuna)	2.8 km 2 [2]	36°00′44″N 14°20′12″E  /  36.01226°N 14.33669°E  / 36.01226; 14.33669  ( Comino ) [3]
Manoel Island (Il-G?ira Manoel)	0.3 km 2	35°54′14″N 14°30′07″E  /  35.904°N 14.502°E  / 35.904; 14.502  ( Manoel Island )
St Paul's Islands (Il-G?ejjer ta' San Pawl)	0.101 km 2 [2]	35°57′55″N 14°24′2″E  /  35.96528°N 14.40056°E  / 35.96528; 14.40056  ( St Paul's Island )
Cominotto (Kemmunett)	0.099 km 2 [4]	36°00′49″N 14°19′10″E  /  36.01361°N 14.31944°E  / 36.01361; 14.31944  ( Kemmunett ) [3]
Filfla (and Filfoletta)	0.020 km 2 [2]	35°47′15″N 14°24′37″E  /  35.78750°N 14.41028°E  / 35.78750; 14.41028  ( Filfla )
Fungus Rock (Il-?ebla tal-?eneral)	0.007 km 2 [2]	36°02′49″N 14°11′20″E  /  36.04694°N 14.18889°E  / 36.04694; 14.18889  ( Fungus Rock ) [3]
Ħalfa Rock (Il-?ebla tal-Ħalfa)	0.0050 km 2 [5] [6]	36°01′45″N 14°19′51″E  /  36.02917°N 14.33083°E  / 36.02917; 14.33083  ( ?ebel tal-Ħalfa ) [3] Situated near Gozo. In the island there is 4 to 5 metres deep water rock pool just 2 metres above sea level, possibly man made due to its perfectly round shape. There is also an underground fresh water system which emerges from a small cave. Most of the plants occurs on the western part of the island. Crucianella rupestris , Anthrocnemum macrostachyum , Lygeum spartum , Convolvulus oleifolius , Thymbra capitata , Teucrium fruticans , Allium melitense , Anacamptis urvilleana , Bromus madritensis , Capparis spinosa , Echium parviflorum , Pallenis spinosa , Plantago lagopus , Trachynia distachya , Urginea pancration . [4]
Old Battery's Rock (?ebla ta' taħt il-Batterija)		Situated on the southeast of Comino. Flora consisted of 22 individuals of Inula crithmoides (2010). [4]
Lantern Point Rock (?ebla Tal-Ponta Rqiqa)		Situated near Comino. [4] Live here two species of plants: Limonium melitense and Inula crithmoides . It has a height of 7 meters. [7]
Large Blue Lagoon Rock		In island, there is a cave. Species of plants: Hypericium aegypticum , Daucus carota , Convolvulus oleifolius , Darniella melitensis , Arthrocnemum macrostachyum , Senecio bicolor . [4]
Small Blue Lagoon Rocks		Situated between Large Blue Lagoon and Cominotto. Species of plants: Arthrocnemum macrostachyum , Daucus carota , Lygeum spartum , Lavatera arborea . [4]
Devil's End Rock (Il-?ebla tax-Xifer l-Infern) [4]		Situated near main island, Delimara point.
Għallis Rocks [4]		35°57′13″N 14°26′46″E  /  35.95361°N 14.44611°E  / 35.95361; 14.44611  ( Għallis Rocks ) [3]
Ta?-?awl Rock (Il-?ebla ta?-?awl)		36°01′34″N 14°18′57″E  /  36.02611°N 14.31583°E  / 36.02611; 14.31583  ( Il-?ebel ta?-?awl ) [3] Situated near Gozo. The flora consisted of Lygeum spartum , Asphodelus aestivus , Crithmum maritimum , Cichorium spinosum , Crucianella rupestrisis , Opuntia , Thymbra capitata , Euphorbia melitensis , Foeniculum vulgare , Allium commutatum , Allium lajoconoi , Bromus madritensis , Capparis spinosa , Gynandriris sisirynchium , Pistacia lentiscus , Phagnalon graceum , Sedum litoreum , Sonchus tenerrimus , Trachynia distachya , Valantia muralis . [4]
Cheirolophus Rock (Ħa?ra tas-Sajjetta)		Situated near main island. It has a height of 9 to 12 meters high at its highest point. Species of plants: Darniella melitensis , Crithmum maritimum , Cheirolophus crassifolius , Inula crithmoides , Limonium virgatum , Daucus carota , Cheirolophus crassifolius . [4]
Barbaganni Rock		Situated near Gozo. No soil exists on the islet because island is inundated by water wave action during rough weather. The flora consisted of only 14 individuals of Inula crithmoides (2010). [4]
Crocodile Rock & Bear rocks (Il-?ebla tal-Baqra u il-?ebel tal-Orsijiet)		Near Gozo, three rocks in total. [4]
Qawra Point (Ta' Fra Ben islet, Il-Ponta jew Ras il- Qawra)		Situated near main island. The western part is littered with small boulders, while much of the vegetation occurs in the middle part of the islet. In island there is sea cave occurs as a big hole in the middle of the islet. Species of plants: Arthrocnemum macrostachyum , Anthemis urvilleana , Inula crithmoides , Lotus cystisoides , Limonium , Sporbolus pungens . [4]
Comino Cliff Face Rock (Ta' Taħt il-Mazz Rock)		Situated near Comino. The island is very steep - cliffs. The majority of species of plants occur on its west side, while only one species of plant inhabits its east side. Species of plants: Matthiola incana , Inula crithmoides , Darniella melitensis , Daucus carota , Limonium melitensis , Anthyllis hermanniae , Pistacia lentiscus . [4]
Xrobb l-Għa?in Rock (It-Taqtiegħa) [4]
Fessej Rock (Il-?ebla tal-Fessej) [4] [8]
Għemieri Rocks (L-iskolli tal-Għemieri) [4]
Ħnejja Rocks (?ebel tal-Ħnejja) [4]
White Rock / Blue Islets (Rocks) (?ebla tal-Għar Qawqla) [4]		36°04′27″N 14°15′45″E  /  36.07417°N 14.26250°E  / 36.07417; 14.26250  ( Għar Qawqla )

Climate [ edit ]

Mediterranean with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers.

Elevation extremes [ edit ]

The lowest point is the Mediterranean Sea at 0 m and the highest point is Ta' Dmejrek at 253 m.

Land use [ edit ]

• Arable land : 28.12%
• Permanent crops : 4.06%
• Other : 67.81% (2011)

Irrigated land [ edit ]

32 km ² (2007)

Total renewable water resources [ edit ]

0.05 km ³ (2011)

Environment [ edit ]

Current issues [ edit ]

Limited natural fresh water resources; increasing reliance on desalination .

International Agreements [ edit ]

• Party to : Air Pollution , Biodiversity , Climate Change , Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol , Desertification , Endangered Species , Law of the Sea , Marine Dumping , Ozone Layer Protection , Ship Pollution , Wetlands

signed, but not ratified:

References [ edit ]