 | This article was imported from the CIA's World Factbook. |
 Satellite image of Malta | |
 | |
| Continent | Europe |
|---|---|
| Region | Southern Europe |
| Coordinates | 35°54′N 14°31′E / 35.900°N 14.517°E |
| Area | Ranked 186th |
| • Total | 316 km2 (122 sq mi) |
| • Land | 100% |
| • Water | 0% |
| Highest point | Ta' Dmejrek |
| Lowest point | Mediterranean Sea |
The geography of Malta is dominated by water. Malta is an archipelago of coralline limestone, located in Europe, in the Mediterranean Sea, 81 kilometres south of Sicily, Italy,[1] and nearly 300 km north (Libya) and northeast (Tunisia) of Africa. Although Malta is situated in Southern Europe, it is located farther south than Tunis, capital of Tunisia, Algiers, capital of Algeria, Tangier in Morocco and also Aleppo in Syria, and Mosul in Iraq in the Middle East. Only the three largest islands – Malta, Gozo and Comino – are inhabited. Other (uninhabited) islands are: Cominotto, Filfla and the St.Paul's Islands. The country is approximately 316 km2 (122 sq mi) in area. Numerous bays along the indented coastline of the islands provide harbours. The landscape of the islands is characterised by high hills with terraced fields. The highest point, at 253 metres, Ta' Zuta on mainland Malta. The capital is Valletta.