Native name: Xaymaca Nickname: Land of Wood and Water | |
|---|---|
 Map of Jamaica | |
 | |
  Jamaica  Jamaica | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Caribbean Sea |
| Coordinates | 18°15′N 77°30′W / 18.250°N 77.500°W |
| Archipelago | Greater Antilles |
| Area | 10,911 km2 (4,213 sq mi) |
| Area rank | 71st |
| Length | 248 km (154.1 mi) |
| Width | 84 km (52.2 mi) |
| Coastline | 1,022 km (635 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 2,256 m (7402 ft) |
| Highest point | Blue Mountain Peak |
| Administration | |
| Largest settlement | Kingston (pop. 651,880) |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 2,804,332 (2008) |
| Pop. density | 252/km2 (653/sq mi) |
| Ethnic groups | 90.0% Black, 1.5% East Indian, 0.4% White, 7.3% Multiracial |
Jamaica lies 140 km (87 mi) south of Cuba and 190 km (118 mi) west of Haiti. At its greatest extent, Jamaica is 235 km (146 mi) long, and its width varies between 34 and 84 km (21 and 52 mi).[1] Jamaica has a small area of 10,992 km2 (4,244 sq mi).[1] However, Jamaica is the largest island of the Commonwealth Caribbean and the third largest of the Greater Antilles, after Cuba and Hispaniola.[1] Many small islands are located along the south coast of Jamaica, such as the Port Royal Cays. Southwest of mainland Jamaica lies Pedro Bank, an area of shallow seas, with a number of cays (low islands or reefs), extending generally east to west for over 160 km (99 mi).[1] To the southeast lies Morant Bank, with the Morant Cays, 51 km (32 mi) from Morant Point, the easternmost point of mainland Jamaica.[1] Alice Shoal, 260 km (160 mi) southwest of the main island of Jamaica, falls within the Jamaica–Colombia Joint Regime. It has an Exclusive Economic Zone of 258,137 km2 (99,667 sq mi).
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This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Hudson, Rex A.; Seyler, Daniel J.; Library of Congress; Federal Research Division (1987). "Jamaica: Geography". In Meditz; Hanratty, Dennis Michael (eds.). Islands of the Commonwealth Caribbean: a regional study. Washington, D.C.: Federal Research Division. OCLC 49361510.[permanent dead link]
