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The island's climate is tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds and heavy rainfall. The interior features rugged mountains of volcanic origin. Volcanism is still quite evident on the island, the most popular examples being Dominica's boiling lake and "valley of desolation." The boiling lake (the world's second largest) is within a crater and is fed by a waterfall - the boiling is believed to be caused by the heat of a magma chamber beneath the lake. The valley of desolation is a sulfurous valley of volcanic vents and hot springs that inhibits significant plant growth - in stark contrast to the surrounding rain forest. The lowest point in the country is at sea level along the coast, and the highest is Morne Diablatins (1,447 m). The extreme southwestern coast of the island includes a large collapsed submarine caldera. Portions of the exposed rim of this caldera form the southwestern tip of the island at Scott's Head.
Natural resources include farming, hydropower and timber.
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total:
land:
754 kmē
Coastline: 148 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
24 nm
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
Land use:
arable land:
9%
permanent crops:
13%
permanent pastures:
3%
forests and woodland:
67%
other:
8% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA kmē
Natural hazards: Flash floods are a constant threat; destructive hurricanes can be expected during the late summer months
Environment - current issues: NA
Environment - international agreements:
Party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling