Malta: Background & Geography

Introduction Malta
Background:
 Great Britain formally acquired possession of Malta in 1814. The island staunchly supported the UK through both World Wars and remained in the Commonwealth when it became independent in 1964. A decade later Malta became a republic. Since about the mid-1980s, the island has become a freight transshipment point, financial center, and tourist destination. Malta is scheduled to become an EU member in May 2004.
Geography 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
water: 0 sq km
land: 316 sq km
Area - comparative:
 slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
 0 km
Coastline:
 196.8 km (does not include 56.01 km for the island of Gozo)
Maritime claims - as described in UNCLOS 1982 (see Notes and Definitions):
 territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive fishing zone: 25 NM
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
contiguous zone: 24 NM
Climate:
 Mediterranean with mild, rainy winters and 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% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
 20 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
 NA
Environment - current issues:
 very limited natural fresh water 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

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