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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