Monaco: Background & Geography

Introduction Monaco
Background:
 Economic development was spurred in the late 19th century with a railroad linkup to France and the opening of a casino. Since then, the principality's mild climate, splendid scenery, and gambling facilities have made Monaco world famous as a tourist and recreation center.
Geography Monaco
Location:
 Western Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea on the southern coast of France, near the border with Italy
Geographic coordinates:
 43 44 N, 7 24 E
Map references:
 Europe
Area:
 total: 1.95 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 1.95 sq km
Area - comparative:
 about three times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
 total: 4.4 km
border countries: France 4.4 km
Coastline:
 4.1 km
Maritime claims - as described in UNCLOS 1982 (see Notes and Definitions):
 territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
 Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers
Terrain:
 hilly, rugged, rocky
Elevation extremes:
 lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mont Agel 140 m
Natural resources:
 none
Land use:
 arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (urban area) (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
 NA sq km
Natural hazards:
 NA
Environment - current issues:
 NA
Environment - international agreements:
 party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:
 second-smallest independent state in the world (after Holy See); almost entirely urban

See Also: