My World Factbook
(Learn more about the new, improved World Factbook)
Note: Most information adapted from the popular World Factbook is distributed between the websites GeoWorld (geography, people, communications & transportation), Politix (government) and Great Depression II (economy).
Geography
Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India
7 00 N, 81 00 E
Area: 
total: 65,610 sq km
country comparison to the world: 
121
land: 64,630 sq km
water: 980 sq km
slightly larger than West Virginia
0 km
1,340 km
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Current Weather
tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to October)
mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interior
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pidurutalagala 2,524 m
limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates, clay, hydropower
arable land: 13.96%
permanent crops: 15.24%
other: 70.8% (2005)
7,430 sq km (2003)
50 cu km (1999)
total: 12.61 cu km/yr (2%/2%/95%)
per capita: 608 cu m/yr (2000)
occasional cyclones and tornadoes
deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by poaching and urbanization; coastal degradation from mining activities and increased pollution; freshwater resources being polluted by industrial wastes and sewage runoff; waste disposal; air pollution in Colombo
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes
The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism - 
