Asia > Eastern Asia > Taiwan Area > Taiwan Area Geography Profile 2011

Taiwan Area: Taiwan Area Geography Profile 2011

2010/07/08

Location:

Eastern Asia, islands bordering the East China Sea, Philippine Sea, South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait, north of the Philippines, off the southeastern coast of China

Geographic coordinates:

23 30 N, 121 00 E

Map references:

Southeast Asia

Area

Total:

35,980 sq km

Comparison to the world:

138

Land:

32,260 sq km

Water:

3,720 sq km

Note:

includes the Pescadores, Matsu, and Quemoy islands

Area comparative:

slightly smaller than Maryland and Delaware combined

Land boundaries Total:

0 km

Land boundaries Note:

Coastline

Value:

1,566.3 km

Note:

Maritime claims

Territorial sea:

12 nm

Exclusive economic zone:

200 nm

Climate:

tropical; marine; rainy season during southwest monsoon (June to August); cloudiness is persistent and extensive all year

Terrain:

eastern two-thirds mostly rugged mountains; flat to gently rolling plains in west

Elevation extremes

Lowest point:

South China Sea 0 m

Highest point:

Yu Shan 3,952 m

Natural resources:

small deposits of coal, natural gas, limestone, marble, and asbestos

Land use

Kind:

arable land

Percentage:

24,00%

Year:

2001

Kind:

permanent crops

Percentage:

1,00%

Kind:

other

Percentage:

75,00%

Irrigated land

Value:

Total renewable water resources

Value:

67 cu km

Year:

2000

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

Per capital:

690 cu m/yr

Natural hazards:

earthquakes; typhoons

Environment - current issues:

air pollution; water pollution from industrial emissions, raw sewage; contamination of drinking water supplies; trade in endangered species; low-level radioactive waste disposal

Environment - international agreements

Party to:

none of the selected agreements because of Taiwan's international status

Geography note:

strategic location adjacent to both the Taiwan Strait and the Luzon Strait