Jamaica Geography

What is the terrain and geography like in Jamaica?

Overview

The Island of Jamaica is perhaps best noted for its lush and scenic tropical beauty: the rugged spine of blue-green mountains rising to 7,400 feet; warm, clear Caribbean waters, with exciting underwater reefs; and the picture-postcard north coast, with its white-sand beaches.

Jamaica is the third-largest Caribbean island and lies nearly 600 miles south of Miami, Florida. The island is 146 miles long and 51 miles across at its widest point. Except for narrow coastal plains mainly on the island's south side, the landscape is one of sharp, crested ridges, unique "cockpit" formations, and deep, twisting valleys. Almost half the island is more than 1,000 feet above sea level. Some 50% of the island is used for agriculture, 40% is woodland, and the remaining 10% is divided between mining and urban areas.

Kingston, the capital, is on the southeast coast and has the world's seventh-largest natural harbor. From sea level at city center, the terrain rises to 1,800 feet. Jamaica's 120 rivers flow to the coasts from the central mountain ranges.

Geography - note

strategic location between Cayman Trench and Jamaica Channel, the main sea lanes for the Panama Canal

Jamaica Use of Natural Resources

Geographic Location	The Caribbean
Total Area	4,244 Square Miles 10,991 Square Kilometers
Land Area	4,182 Square Miles 10,831 Square Kilometers
Water Area	62 Square Miles 160 Square Kilometers
Irrigated Land	97 Square Miles 252 Square Kilometers
Coastline	635 Miles 1,022 Kilometers
Geographic Coordinates	18 15 N, 77 30 W
Terrain	mostly mountains, with narrow, discontinuous coastal plain
Highest Point	2,256 Meters
Highest Point Location	Blue Mountain Peak 2,256 m
Lowest Point Location	Caribbean Sea 0 m
Natural Resources	bauxite, gypsum, limestone
Time Zone	UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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