[[Barbados]] is a [[continental island]] in the North [[Atlantic Ocean]] and is located at 13°10' north of the [[equator]], and 59°32' west of the [[Prime Meridian]]. As the easternmost isle of the [[Lesser Antilles]] in the [[West Indies]], Barbados lies 160 kilometres (100&nbsp;mi) east of the [[Windward Islands]] and [[Caribbean Sea]].<ref name="Encyclopædia Britannica">{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/645259/Windward-Islands |title=Windward Islands |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |quote="a line of West Indian islands constituting the southern arc of the Lesser Antilles, '''at the eastern end of the Caribbean Sea''', between latitudes 12° and 16° N and longitudes 60° and 62° W. They include, from north to south, the English-speaking island of Dominica; the French département of Martinique; the English-speaking islands of Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, and Grenada; and, between Saint Vincent and Grenada, the chain of small islands known as the Grenadines. '''Though near the general area, Trinidad and Tobago (at the south end of the group) and Barbados (just east) are usually not considered part of the Windward Islands.''' "}}</ref> The maritime claim for Barbados is a territorial sea of {{convert|12|nmi|km mi|1|abbr=on|lk=in}}, with an [[exclusive economic zone]] of {{convert|200|nmi|km mi|1|abbr=on}} which gives Barbados a total maritime area of {{convert|186,898|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uwicaricom.org/papers-and-articles/articles/182-border-controversies-and-their-implications-for-stability-and-security-of-the-caribbean-.html?showall=1 |title=Border Controversies and their Implications for Stability and Security of the Caribbean Community |first=Cedric |last=Joseph |publisher=UWI-CARICOM Project |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141022225637/http://uwicaricom.org/papers-and-articles/articles/182-border-controversies-and-their-implications-for-stability-and-security-of-the-caribbean-.html?showall=1 |archive-date=2014-10-22 |quote=The Bahamas, one of six CARICOM States to claim archipelago status, with a total coastline of 11,238 km, is reported to have the largest claim to EEZ of 369,149 sq km. Barbados, with a total coastline of some 97 km and a relatively small continental shelf of 213 sq km, reportedly has a claim to some 183,436 sq km of exclusive economic zone. |url-status=dead }}</ref> Of the total EEZ area 70,000&nbsp;km², is set aside for offshore oil exploration.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gov.bb/portal/page/portal/GISMEDIA%20CENTRENEWS%20MANAGEMENT/News%20Archive/BID%20Blocks%20carrying%20local%20names1 |title=BID Blocks carrying local names |author=Staff writer |date=8 August 2007 |publisher=[[Government of Barbados]] |access-date=20 December 2010 |quote=Barbados is 341(TYPO?) square kilometres in size and 70,000 sq km of its marine territorial space has been made available for the offshore hydrocarbon exploration. This means that the acreage on the market is about 162 times the size of the island’s land space. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003130037/http://www.gov.bb/portal/page/portal/GISMEDIA%20CENTRENEWS%20MANAGEMENT/News%20Archive/BID%20Blocks%20carrying%20local%20names1 |archive-date=October 3, 2011 }}</ref> A pending application to [[UNCLOS]] has placed for consideration a [[continental shelf]] {{convert|200|nmi|km mi|1|abbr=on}} to the east and south (or to the edge of the continental margin). To the west, most of Barbados' maritime boundaries consist of median lines with neighbours. These neighbours include: [[Martinique]], and [[Saint Lucia]] to the northwest, [[Saint Vincent and the Grenadines]] to the west, [[Trinidad and Tobago]] and [[Venezuela]] to the southwest, and [[Guyana]] to the southeast.

[[File:VenezuelaJS.png|thumb|The coast of Venezuela, South America and Barbados|240px|right]]

Barbados' total land area is {{convert|430|km²|sqmi|1|abbr=on}}, and it has a coastline of {{convert|97|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} length.<ref>[https://www.un.org/esa/dsd/dsd_aofw_sids/sids_membcarr.shtml]</ref> Sometimes compared to a [[pear]]<ref>{{cite book |last1=Pariser |first1=Harry S. |title=Explore Barbados |url=http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Explore-Barbados/Harry-S-Pariser/e/9781893643512 |access-date=2009-12-29 |volume=3 |date=October 2000 |publisher=Manatee Press |isbn=1-893643-51-4 |quote=Forewords & Introductions: "Just 21 mi. long by a "smile" wide, Barbados is an island of dramatic contrasts and offers many picture-postcard terrains. The island's shape has been compared to that of a ham, a leg of mutton, a pear-shaped emerald, or a lopsided pear with the stem end pointing north. }}</ref> or leg of [[mutton]] for its physical shape. Along the north–south axis Barbados has a maximum length of {{convert|34|km}}, and east–west maximum breadth of {{convert|23|km}}.

==Physical characteristics==

The physical characteristics of Barbados are its lowlands or gently sloping, terraced plains, separated by rolling hills that generally parallel the coasts. Elevations in the interior range from 180 to 240 meters above sea level. Mount Hillaby is the highest point at 340 meters above sea level. Farther south, at [[Christ Church Ridge]], elevations range from sixty to ninety meters. Eighty-five percent of the island's surface consists of coralline limestone twenty-four to thirty meters thick; [[Scotland District]] contains outcroppings of oceanic formations at the surface, however. Sugarcane is planted on almost 80 percent of the island's limestone surface. The soils vary in fertility; erosion is a problem, with crop loss resulting from landslides, washouts, and falling rocks. Most of the small streams are in Scotland District. The rest of the island has few surface streams; nevertheless, rainwater saturates the soil to produce underground channels such as the famous [[Coles Cave]]. Also notable in the island is the rocky cape known as [[Pico Teneriffe (Barbados)|Pico Teneriffe]]<ref>[http://www.barbadospocketguide.com/barbados-attractions/beaches-and-bays/north-coast-beaches/pico-teneriffe.html Pico Teneriffe]</ref> or Pico de Tenerife, which is named after the fact that the island of [[Tenerife]] in [[Spain]] is the first land east of Barbados according to the belief of the locals.

==Proposed developments==

In 2009<ref>{{cite news|title=An island north of the harbour |first=Peter |last=Thorne |url=http://www.cbc.bb/index.pl/article?id=3392924 |agency=[[Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation|Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)]] |date=25 February 2009 |access-date=10 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303192629/http://www.cbc.bb/index.pl/article?id=3392924 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and 2010, members of the upscale real estate industry in Barbados proposed the creation of [[artificial island]]s to be placed off the west coast. According to Paul Altman of Altman Realty the envisioned plan, would consist of two islands, one measuring {{convert|250|acre|km2}} in size, and would house new tourism based developments and upscale boutique shops; while the second island would be {{convert|50|acre|m2}} in size, and would serve as an open national park. Both proposed islands would be a short distance from the [[Deep Water Harbour]] in Bridgetown.<ref>{{cite news|title=Artificial islands a viable option? |first=Janelle |last=Riley-Thornhill |url=http://www.barbadosadvocate.com/newsitem.asp?more=columnists&NewsID=9376 |newspaper=[[Barbados Advocate]] |date=10 March 2010 |access-date=10 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120226124807/http://www.barbadosadvocate.com/newsitem.asp?more=columnists&NewsID=9376 |archive-date=February 26, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=2 man-made islands to add value to tourism product |first=G. |last=E. |url=http://www.nationnews.com/story/LEAD-Paul-Altman-on-islands-copy-for-web |newspaper=[[The Daily Nation (Barbados)|Nation Newspaper]] |date=2 March 2010 |access-date=10 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100308225331/http://www.nationnews.com/story/LEAD-Paul-Altman-on-islands-copy-for-web |archive-date=March 8, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The south-eastern part of the island has undergone small scale oil and gas capturing from possibly as early as 1919 when the [[British Union Oil Company]] acquired over 75% of the drilling rights in Barbados.<ref>[http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/lords/1951/apr/18/british-commercial-interests-in-barbados BRITISH COMMERCIAL INTERESTS IN BARBADOS], HL Deb 18 April 1951 vol 171 cc376-404</ref> Similar to Trinidad and Tobago to the southwest, the territorial Atlantic Ocean surrounding Barbados has been found to contain [[fossil fuels]], however ongoing research is being conducted to give estimates of actual quantities.<ref>{{cite news|title=Business Monday: Boyce speaks on Barbados' search for oil |first=J. |last=B. |url=http://www.barbadosadvocate.com/newsitem.asp?more=business&NewsID=11778 |newspaper=[[Barbados Advocate]] |date=2 August 2010 |access-date=2 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311120615/http://www.barbadosadvocate.com/newsitem.asp?more=business&NewsID=11778 |archive-date=March 11, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.energy.gov.bb/2010/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=9&Itemid= |title=2D Long Offset Seismic |access-date=2010-12-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706132003/http://www.energy.gov.bb/2010/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=9&Itemid= |archive-date=2011-07-06 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Time zone==

Barbados is in the [[Atlantic Time Zone|Eastern Caribbean Time Zone]]. [[Barbados]] no longer observes [[Daylight Saving Time]]. It was last used between Sunday, 20 April 1980 at 2:00 AM and Thursday, 25 September 1980 at 2:00 AM. On 25 September of that year the clock was shifted from -3:00 to -4:00, where it has remained since.

==Statistics==

===Location===

[[File:BarbadosFromISS.jpg|thumb|300px|Barbados, seen from the [[International Space Station]]]]

[[File:NOAA Barbados reefs.jpg|thumb|300px|Barbados's offshore coral reefs.]]

: [[Barbados]] is Caribbean: an island between the [[Caribbean Sea]] and the North [[Atlantic Ocean]], northeast of [[Venezuela]]

; Map references:

: [[Central America]] and the Caribbean

===Area===

:* Total: 430 km²

:* Land: 430 km²

:* Water: 0 km²

===Area comparative===

:* [[Australia]] comparative: less than one-fifth of the area of the [[Australian Capital Territory]]

:* [[Canada]] comparative: slightly larger than [[London, Ontario|London]] in the [[Ontario|Province of Ontario]]

:* [[United Kingdom]] comparative: slightly larger than the [[Isle of Wight]] or [[Saint Helena]]

:* [[United States]] comparative: 2.5 times the size of [[Washington, DC]], about the size of [[San Antonio, Texas]], or half the size of [[New York City]]

===Land boundaries===

: 0 km

; Coastline:

: 97 km

; Maritime claims:

:* Territorial sea: {{convert|12|nmi|km mi|1|abbr=on}}

:* [[Exclusive economic zone]]: {{convert|186,898|km2|mi2|abbr=on}} and {{convert|200|nmi|km mi|1|abbr=on|lk=in}}

===Climate===

: Tropical; rainy season (June to October)

===Terrain===

: Relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region

; Extreme points

:* Northernmost point – [[North Point (Barbados)|North Point]], [[Saint Lucy, Barbados|Saint Lucy]]

:* Southernmost point – [[South Point, Barbados|South Point]], [[Silver Sands, Barbados|Silver Sands]], [[Christ Church, Barbados|Christ Church]]

:* Westernmost point – [[Harrison Point, Barbados|Harrison Point]], [[Saint Lucy, Barbados|Saint Lucy]]

:* Easternmost point – [[Kitridge Point, Saint Phillip, Barbados|Kitridge Point]], [[Saint Philip, Barbados|Saint Philip]]

:* Lowest point: [[Atlantic Ocean]]: 0 m

:* Highest point: [[Mount Hillaby]]: 336 m

===Natural resources===

: Fish, natural gas

===Land use===

:* Arable land: 25.58%

:* Permanent crops: 2.33%

:* Other: 72.09% (2012)

; Irrigated land:

: 54.35 km² (2003)

; Total renewable water sources:

: 0.08 cu km (2011)

; Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

: total: 0.1 cu km/yr (20%/26%/254)

: per capita: 371.3 cu m/yr (200p)

=== Natural hazards ===

: Infrequent hurricanes; periodic landslides; and periodic flooding, from storm surge and intense rainfall events

===Environment - current issues===

: Pollution of coastal waters from waste disposal by ships; soil erosion; illegal solid waste disposal threatens contamination of aquifers

; Environment - international agreements:

:* Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

:* Signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

; Geography - note:

: Easternmost Caribbean island

== Climate ==

Barbados lies within the tropics. Its generally pleasant maritime climate is influenced by northeast trade winds, which moderate the tropical temperature. Cool, northeasterly trade winds are prevalent during the December to June dry season. The overall annual temperature ranges from {{convert|24|to|28|°C|°F|1}}; slightly lower temperatures prevail at higher elevations. Humidity levels are between 71 percent and 76 percent year round. Rainfall occurs primarily between June and December and varies considerably with elevation. Rainfall may average {{convert|1875|mm|in|1|sp=us}} per year in the higher central area as compared with {{convert|1275|mm|in|1|sp=us}} in the coastal zone.

==Disputes==

[[Guyana]] and Barbados have a portion of maritime which overlap and are disputed with Venezuela,<ref>[https://notesfromthemargin.wordpress.com/2007/07/27/how-trinidad-recognised-venezuelas-claim-to-most-of-guyanas-land/ How Trinidad Recognised Venezuela’s Claim to Most Of Guyana’s Land] 18 June 2007, Notes From The Margin</ref> the latter of which claims ownership of the maritime overlapping the first two.<ref>[https://notesfromthemargin.wordpress.com/2008/06/16/marginal-picks-up-his-pen-venezuelas-claim-of-barbados-waters/ Marginal Picks Up His Pen – Venezuelas Claim of Barbados’ Waters] 16 June 2008, Notes From The Margin</ref> In 2008 Barbados sought to place the oil blocks on open market for oil exploration tender but faced a challenge by Venezuela's government in [[Caracas]].<ref>[http://www.eluniversal.com/2008/07/28/en_eco_art_ngo-reports-barbados_28A1843999.shtml NGO reports Barbados is bidding oil blocks in Venezuelan waters] 28 July 2008, El Universal</ref>

In 2006 a local Barbadian group purporting to represent descendants of indigenous Caribbean peoples announced its claim to [[Culpepper Island]], a small rocky outcrop on the eastern shore of Barbados.<ref>[http://www.pantribalconfederacy.com/confederacy/reclamation/ "The Reclamation of Culpepper Island by the Lokono-Arawak and Karifuna-Carib Nations"]</ref>

== Notes ==

{{reflist}}

*{{loc}}

*{{CIA World Factbook}}

== References ==

*{{cite book |last1=Schomburgk |first1=Sir Robert Hermann |title=The history of Barbados |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fUhSFjUBpVoC&pg=PP1 |access-date=12 July 2010 |edition=6th |year=2001 |orig-year=1848 |publisher=[[Frank Cass Publishers]] |isbn=0-7146-1948-5 }}

*{{cite book |last1=Bensley |first1=Jessica |title=Skyviews Atlas Barbados |url=http://www.atlasbarbados.com/ |access-date=19 December 2010 |edition=Ed. 1 |year=2009 |publisher=Skyviews Caribbean |isbn=978-976-95231-0-4 }}

*{{cite journal |last=Evans |first=Chris |year=2009 |title=Land slides and tourist development: The slow slide of eastern Barbados into the sea |journal=[[Earthwise]] |issue=14 |page=17 |publisher=[[British Geological Survey]] |issn=0967-9669 |url=http://www.bgs.ac.uk/downloads/directDownload.cfm?id=253&noexcl=true&t=Earthwise%20Issue%2014%2C%20Geohazards }}

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120208050839/http://www.barbadosadvocate.com/NewViewNewsleft.cfm?Record=32932 Caves and landslips in Barbados] - September 16, 2007: Barbados Advocate

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20091113144521/http://www.barbados.gov.bb/geography.htm Geography & Climate of Barbados] - Barbados Government

*[http://www.bgs.ac.uk/downloads/start.cfm?id=154 Earthwise Issue 14, Landslides and tourist development - The slow slide of eastern Barbados into the sea], British Geological Survey

* [http://digitool.library.mcgill.ca/webclient/StreamGate?folder_id=0&dvs=1544341546799~696 Plantation and Peasant Farm A Vertical Theme in the Historical Geography of Barbados 1627 - 1960] by Frank Cecil Innes, M.A., B.Sc, September, 1967, Doctor of Philosophy, Dept. of Geography, McGil1 Univ.

==See also==

*[[English place names in Barbados]]

== External links ==

* [http://www.caribbean-on-line.com/islands/br/ Caribbean-On-Line.com] provides detailed maps of Barbados.

* [http://www.statoids.com/ubb.html Districts of Barbados], Statoids.com

* [http://earth-info.nga.mil/gns/html/index.html GEOnet Names Server]

* [http://www.bajannav.com/ BajanNAV] - Free satellite navigation software for Barbados

* [https://www.totallybarbados.com/articles/about-barbados/geography/ Barbados Geography] geographic profile of Barbados.

* [http://www.encyclopedia.com/places/latin-america-and-caribbean/caribbean-political-geography/barbados Encyclopedia.com] Worldmark Encyclopedia of Nations.

* [https://www.britannica.com/place/Barbados#ref515955 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.] Physical Geography