locations are gravel, sea-ice, blue-ice, or compacted snow suitable
for landing wheeled, fixed-wing aircraft; of these, 1 is greater
than 3 km in length, 6 are between 2 km and 3 km in length, 3 are
between 1 km and 2 km in length, 3 are less than 1 km in length, and
2 are of unknown length; snow surface skiways, limited to use by
ski-equipped, fixed-wing aircraft, are available at another 15
locations; of these, 4 are greater than 3 km in length, 3 are
between 2 km and 3 km in length, 2 are between 1 km and 2 km in
length, 2 are less than 1 km in length, and 4 are of unknown length;
aircraft landing facilities generally subject to severe restrictions
and limitations resulting from extreme seasonal and geographic
conditions; aircraft landing facilities do not meet ICAO standards;
advance approval from the respective governmental or nongovernmental
operating organization required for landing; landed aircraft are
subject to inspection in accordance with Article 7, Antarctic Treaty
(2003 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 20 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 6 (2004 est.) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
Heliports:
27 stations have restricted helicopter landing facilities
(helipads) (2003 est.)
Military Antarctica
Military - note:
the Antarctic Treaty prohibits any measures of a military nature,
such as the establishment of military bases and fortifications, the
carrying out of military maneuvers, or the testing of any type of
weapon; it permits the use of military personnel or equipment for
scientific research or for any other peaceful purposes
Transnational Issues Antarctica
Disputes - international:
Antarctic Treaty freezes claims (see Antarctic Treaty Summary in
Government type entry); sections (some overlapping) claimed by
Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, NZ, Norway, and UK; the US and
most other states do not recognize the territorial claims of other
states and have made no claims themselves (the US and Russia reserve
the right to do so); no claims have been made in the sector between
90 degrees west and 150 degrees west; several states with land
claims in Antarctica have expressed their intention to submit data
to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf to
extend their continental shelf claims to adjoining undersea ridges
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Antigua and Barbuda
Introduction Antigua and Barbuda
Background:
The Siboney were the first to inhabit the islands of Antigua and
Barbuda in 2400 B.C., but Arawak and Carib Indians populated the
islands when Columbus landed on his second voyage in 1493. Early
settlements by the Spanish and French were succeeded by the English
who formed a colony in 1667. Slavery, established to run the sugar
plantations on Antigua, was abolished in 1834. The islands became an
independent state within the British Commonwealth of Nations in 1981.
Geography Antigua and Barbuda
Location:
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic
Ocean, east-southeast of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates:
17 03 N, 61 48 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 443 sq km (Antigua 280 sq km; Barbuda 161 sq km)
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Redonda, 1.6 sq km
land: 443 sq km
Area - comparative:
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
153 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
Climate:
tropical; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
mostly low-lying limestone and coral islands, with some higher
volcanic areas
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Boggy Peak 402 m
Natural resources:
NEGL; pleasant climate fosters tourism
Land use: arable land: 18.18% permanent crops: 4.55% other: 77.27% (2001)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October); periodic droughts
Environment - current issues: water management - a major concern because of limited natural fresh water resources - is further hampered by the clearing of trees to increase crop production, causing rainfall to run off quickly
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
Antigua has a deeply indented shoreline with many natural harbors
and beaches; Barbuda has a very large western harbor
People Antigua and Barbuda
Population:
68,320 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:
0–14 years: 28.1% (male 9,761; female 9,429)
15–64 years: 67.6% (male 23,179; female 23,023)
65 years and over: 4.3% (male 1,151; female 1,777) (2004 est.)
Median age:
total: 29.4 years
male: 28.9 years
female: 29.9 years (2004