Editing Geography of Malta

{{Short description|Island in Europe}} <!-- This short description is INTENTIONALLY "none" - please see WP:SDNONE before you consider changing it! -->
{{GeoGroup}}{{Infobox country geography|name=Malta|image=File:Malta’s Landscape of Limestone.jpeg|image name=|image caption=Satellite image of Malta|map=Malta2021OSM.png|continent=[[Europe]]|region=[[Southern Europe]]|coordinates={{Coord|35|54|N|14|31|E|type:city|display=inline,title}}|area ranking=186th|km area=316|percent land=100|percent water=0|highest point=[[Ta' Dmejrek]]|lowest point=[[Mediterranean Sea]]}}[[File:Map of Malta 2.png|thumb|right]]The '''geography of Malta''' is dominated by water. [[Malta]] is an [[archipelago]] of [[coralline limestone]], located in [[Europe]], in the [[Mediterranean Sea]], 81 kilometres south of [[Sicily]], [[Italy]],<ref name="GMaps">From [[Żebbuġ]] in Malta, coordinates: 36°04'48.2"N 14°15'06.7"E to Cava d'Aliga ([[Scicli]]) in Italy, coordinates: 36°43'22.5"N 14°41'10.9"E – Google Maps</ref> and nearly 300&nbsp;km north (Libya) and northeast (Tunisia) of [[Africa]]. Although Malta is situated in [[Southern Europe]], it is located farther south than [[Tunis]], capital of [[Tunisia]], [[Algiers]], capital of [[Algeria]], [[Tangier]] in [[Morocco]] and also [[Aleppo]] in [[Syria]], and [[Mosul]] in [[Iraq]] in the [[Middle East]]. Only the three largest islands &ndash; [[Malta Island|Malta]], [[Gozo Island|Gozo]] and [[Comino Island|Comino]] &ndash; are inhabited. Other (uninhabited) islands are: [[Cominotto]], [[Filfla]] and the [[St. Paul's Islands]]. The country is approximately {{convert|316|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} in area. Numerous bays along the indented coastline of the islands provide harbours. The landscape of the islands is characterised by high hills with terraced fields. The highest point, at 253 metres, [http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/579611/Ta-Zuta Ta' Zuta] on mainland Malta. The capital is [[Valletta]].

== Statistics ==
Malta has a total area of 315.718&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>,<ref name="SOER">[https://www.mepa.org.mt/file.aspx?f=3205 State of the Environment Report for Malta 1998] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402103630/https://www.mepa.org.mt/file.aspx?f=3205|date=2015-04-02}}</ref> with land making up 315.718&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> and water taking up zero area. Compared to other political entities, this makes Malta:
* (Australia) slightly less than one-seventh the Australian Capital Territory's size;
* (Canada) roughly one-eighteenth Prince Edward Island's size;
* (UK) slightly smaller than the Isle of Wight;
* (US) slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC.
Excluding 56&nbsp;km from the island of Gozo, Malta has a coastline of 196.8&nbsp;km. Its maritime claims of territorial sea are {{Convert|12|nmi|km mi|1|abbr=on}}, contiguous zone is {{Convert|24|nmi|km mi|1|abbr=on|lk=in}}, continental shelf is 200&nbsp;m depth or to the depth of exploitation, and Malta's exclusive fishing zone spans {{Convert|25|nmi|km mi|1|abbr=on}}.
== Islands ==
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Name
! Area
! Note/<br/>coordinates
! Image
|-
| [[Malta (island)|Malta Island]]
| 246&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup><ref name="SOER" />
|{{coord|35.88182|14.44908|format=dms|name=Malta}}<ref name=Geo>{{cite web|url=https://www.geonames.org/advanced-search.html?q=Island&country=MT&featureClass=&continentCode=|title=Islands of Malta|website=[[GeoNames]]|access-date=October 26, 2021}}</ref>
| [[File:Malta ali 2009224 lrg.jpg|200px]]
|-
| [[Gozo]]<br/>''(Għawdex)''
| 67.1&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup><ref name="SOER"/>
|{{coord|36.04944|14.25|format=dms|name=Gozo}}<ref name=Geo />
| [[File:Gozo from space via laser ESA378503.jpg|200px]]
|-
| [[Comino]]<br/>''(Kemmuna)''
| 2.8&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup><ref name="SOER"/>
|{{coord|36.01226|14.33669|format=dms|name=Comino}}<ref name=Geo />
| [[File:Sudika Kemmuna.jpg|200px]]
|-
| [[Manoel Island]]<br/>''(Il-Gżira Manoel)''
| 0.3&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>
|{{coord|35.904|14.502|format=dms|name=Manoel Island}}
| [[File:Aerial view of Manoel Island.jpg|200px]]
|-
| [[St Paul's Island]]s<br/>''(Il-Gżejjer ta' San Pawl)''
| 0.101&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup><ref name="SOER"/>
|{{coord|35|57|55|N|14|24|2|E|format=dms|name=St Paul's Island}}
| [[File:Selmunett Island.jpg|200px]]
|-
| [[Cominotto]]<br/>''(Kemmunett)''
| 0.099&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup><ref name="S&S"/>
|{{coord|36.01361|14.31944|format=dms|name=Kemmunett}}<ref name=Geo />
| [[File:Malta - Ghajnsielem - Cominotto + Blue Lagoon (Comino) 03 ies.jpg|200px]]
|-
| [[Filfla]] (and Filfoletta)
| 0.020&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup><ref name="SOER"/>
|{{coord|35|47|15|N|14|24|37|E|format=dms|name=Filfla}}
| [[File:Filfla 1.jpg|200px]]
|-
| [[Fungus Rock]]<br/>''(Il-Ġebla tal-Ġeneral)''
| 0.007&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup><ref name="SOER"/>
|{{coord|36.04694|14.18889|format=dms|name=Fungus Rock}}<ref name=Geo />
| [[File:Fungus rock.JPG|200px]]
|-
| [[Ħalfa Rock]]<br/>''(Il-Ġebla tal-Ħalfa)''
| 0.0050&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup><ref name="mepa.org">[https://www.mepa.org.mt/talhalfa Il-Gebla tal-Halfa] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170106173142/https://www.mepa.org.mt/talhalfa |date=2017-01-06 }} - Malta Environment & Planning Authority (MEPA)</ref><ref name="EUNIS">[http://eunis.eea.europa.eu/sites/330744 Site factsheet for Il-Gebla tal-Halfa] - EUNIS</ref>
|{{coord|36.02917|14.33083|format=dms|name=Ġebel tal-Ħalfa}}<ref name=Geo /> Situated near Gozo. In the island there is 4 to 5 metres deep water rock pool just 2 metres above sea level, possibly man made due to its perfectly round shape. There is also an underground fresh water system which emerges from a small cave. Most of the plants occurs on the western part of the island. [[Crucianella rupestris]], [[Arthrocnemum macrostachyum]], [[Lygeum spartum]], [[Convolvulus oleifolius]], [[Thymbra capitata]], [[Teucrium fruticans]], [[Allium melitense]], [[Anacamptis urvilleana]], [[Bromus madritensis]], [[Capparis spinosa]], [[Echium parviflorum]], [[Pallenis spinosa]], [[Plantago lagopus]], [[Trachynia distachya]], [[Urginea pancration]].<ref name="S&S"/>
|[[File:Gebla tal Halfa1.jpg|200px]]
|-
| Old Battery's Rock<br/>''(Ġebla ta' taħt il-Batterija)''
|
| Situated on the southeast of Comino. Flora consisted of 22 individuals of [[Inula crithmoides]] (2010).<ref name="S&S"/>
|
|-
| Lantern Point Rock<br/>''(Ġebla Tal-Ponta Rqiqa)''
|
| Situated near Comino.<ref name="S&S">[https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Arnold_Sciberras2/publication/260294462_SCIBERRAS_J.__SCIBERRAS_A_%282010%29_Topography_and_Flora_of_the_Satellite_islets_surrounding_the_Maltese_Archipelago._The_Central_Mediterranean_Naturalist_5%282%2931-42._Nature_Trust_Malta_publications/links/00b49530ad3f6c4e5f000000.pdf "Topography and Flora of the Satellite islets surrounding the Maltese Archipelago"] - Arnold Sciberras, Jeffrey Sciberras, 2010</ref> Live here two species of plants: [[Limonium melitense]] and [[Inula crithmoides]]. It has a height of 7 meters.<ref>[http://www.biodiversityjournal.com/pdf/3(3)_191-200.pdf "A contribution to the knowledge of the terrestrial Mammalian fauna of Comino and its satellite islets (Maltese Archipelago)"] - Biodiversity Journal, 2012, 3 (3): 191-200</ref> 
| [[File:Malta - Ghajnsielem - Lantern Point Rock (Comino) 01 ies.jpg|200px]]
|-
| Large [[Blue Lagoon Rock]]
|
| In island, there is a cave. Species of plants: [[Hypericium aegypticum]], [[Daucus carota]], [[Convolvulus oleifolius]], [[Darniella melitensis]], [[Arthrocnemum macrostachyum]], [[Senecio bicolor]].<ref name="S&S"/>
| [[File:View-Gozo-DSC 0156.jpg|200px]]
|-
| Small [[Blue Lagoon Rock]]s
|
| Situated between Large Blue Lagoon and Cominotto. Species of plants: [[Arthrocnemum macrostachyum]], [[Daucus carota]], [[Lygeum spartum]], [[Lavatera arborea]].<ref name="S&S"/>
| [[File:Malta - Ghajnsielem - Small Blue Lagoon Rock (Comino) 01 ies.jpg|200px]]
|-
| Devil's End Rock<br/>''(Il-Ġebla tax-Xifer l-Infern)''<ref name="S&S"/>
|
| Situated near main island, Delimara point.
| [[File:Delimara Point Nov 2014 03.JPG|200px]]
|-
| Għallis Rocks<ref name="S&S"/>
|
|{{coord|35.95361|14.44611|format=dms|name=Għallis Rocks}}<ref name=Geo />
| [[File:Malta - Naxxar - Ghallis Rocks 01 ies.jpg|200px]]
|-
| Taċ-Ċawl Rock<br/>''(Il-Ġebla taċ-Ċawl)''
|
|{{coord|36.02611|14.31583|format=dms|name=Il-Ġebel taċ-Ċawl}}<ref name=Geo /> Situated near Gozo. The flora consisted of [[Lygeum spartum]], [[Asphodelus aestivus]], [[Crithmum maritimum]], [[Cichorium spinosum]], [[Crucianella rupestrisis]], [[Opuntia]], [[Thymbra capitata]], [[Euphorbia melitensis]], [[Foeniculum vulgare]], [[Allium commutatum]], [[Allium lajoconoi]], [[Bromus madritensis]], [[Capparis spinosa]], [[Gynandriris sisirynchium]], [[Pistacia lentiscus]], [[Phagnalon graceum]], [[Sedum litoreum]], [[Sonchus tenerrimus]], [[Trachynia distachya]], [[Valantia muralis]].<ref name="S&S"/>
|
|-
| Cheirolophus Rock<br/>''(Ħaġra tas-Sajjetta)''
|
| Situated near main island. It has a height of 9 to 12 meters high at its highest point. Species of plants: [[Darniella melitensis]], [[Crithmum maritimum]], [[Cheirolophus crassifolius]], [[Inula crithmoides]], [[Limonium virgatum]], [[Daucus carota]], [[Cheirolophus crassifolius]].<ref name="S&S"/>
|
|-
| Barbaganni Rock
|
| Situated near Gozo. No soil exists on the islet because island is inundated by water wave action during rough weather. The flora consisted of only 14 individuals of [[Inula crithmoides]] (2010).<ref name="S&S"/>
|
|-
| Crocodile Rock & Bear rocks<br/>''(Il-Ġebla tal-Baqra u il-Ġebel tal-Orsijiet)''
|
| Near Gozo, three rocks in total.<ref name="S&S"/>
|
|-
| [[Qawra Point]]<br/>''(Ta' Fra Ben islet, Il-Ponta jew Ras il- Qawra)''
|
| Situated near main island. The western part is littered with small boulders, while much of the vegetation occurs in the middle part of the islet. In island there is sea cave occurs as a big hole in the middle of the islet. Species of plants: [[Arthrocnemum macrostachyum]], [[Anthemis urvilleana]], [[Inula crithmoides]], [[Lotus cystisoides]], [[Limonium]], [[Sporbolus pungens]].<ref name="S&S"/>
| [[File:Malta - St. Paul's Bay - Triq it-Trunciera - Ras il-Qawra + peninsula 02 ies.jpg|200px]]
|-
| Comino Cliff Face Rock<br/>''(Ta' Taħt il-Mazz Rock)''
|
| Situated near Comino. The island is very steep - cliffs. The majority of species of plants occur on its west side, while only one species of plant inhabits its east side. Species of plants: [[Matthiola incana]], [[Inula crithmoides]], [[Darniella melitensis]], [[Daucus carota]], [[Limonium melitensis]], [[Anthyllis hermanniae]], [[Pistacia lentiscus]].<ref name="S&S"/>
|
|-
| Xrobb l-Għaġin Rock<br/>''(It-Taqtiegħa)''<ref name="S&S"/>
|
|
|
|-
| Fessej Rock<br/>''(Il-Ġebla tal-Fessej)''<ref name="S&S"/><ref name="caruana">{{cite journal|journal=L-Imnara|last=Caruana|first=Joseph|date=2011|title=Toponomi t'Għajnsielem (1)|url=http://melitensiawth.com/incoming/Index/L-Imnara/L-Imnara.%2009(2011)4=35/11s.pdf|volume=9|issue=4|publisher=Rivista tal-Għaqda Maltija tal-Folklor|page=189|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418041200/http://melitensiawth.com/incoming/Index/L-Imnara/L-Imnara.%2009%282011%294%3D35/11s.pdf|archive-date=18 April 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|
|
| [[File:Islet as viewed by the Mgarr ix-Xini Tower.jpeg|200px]]
|-
| Għemieri Rocks<br/>''(L-iskolli tal-Għemieri)''<ref name="S&S"/>
|
|
|
|-
| Ħnejja Rocks<br/>''(Ġebel tal-Ħnejja)''<ref name="S&S"/>
|
|
|
|-
| [[Għar Qawqla|White Rock / Blue Islets]] (Rocks)<br/>''(Ġebla tal-Għar Qawqla)''<ref name="S&S"/>
|
|{{coord|36|04|27|N|14|15|45|E|format=dms|name=Għar Qawqla}}
| [[File:Marsalforn Rock Formation.jpg|200px]]
|}

== Climate ==
{{see also|Climate of Malta}}

Mediterranean with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers.

== Elevation extremes ==
The lowest point is the Mediterranean Sea at 0 m and the highest point is [[Ta' Dmejrek]] at 253 m.

==Geology==
{{main|Geology of Malta}}
The Geology of Malta consists of a sequence of [[sedimentary rocks]] of late [[Oligocene]] to [[Upper Miocene|late Miocene]] age cut through by a set of [[extensional fault]]s of [[Pliocene]] age.<ref name="ChrisDetal_1993">{{Cite journal |last1=Dart C.J. |last2=Bosence D.W.J. |last3=McClay K.R. |title=Stratigraphy and structure of the Maltese graben system |url=http://jgs.lyellcollection.org/content/150/6/1153.short |journal=Journal of the Geological Society |year=1993 |publication-date=1993 |volume=150 |issue=6 |pages=1153–1166 |doi=10.1144/gsjgs.150.6.1153|s2cid=131447222 }}</ref> The sequence is divided into five [[geological formation|formations]], from the oldest, the Lower Coralline Limestone, followed by the Globigerina Limestone, the Blue Clay and the youngest unit, the Upper Coralline Limestone.<ref name="CSD">{{Cite web |url=https://continentalshelf.gov.mt/en/Pages/Geological-Map-of-the-Maltese-Islands.aspx |title=Geological Map of the Maltese Islands |last=Continental Shelf Department |publisher=Government of Malta |access-date=2018-02-22}}</ref>
== Land use ==
* '''Arable land''': 28.12%
* '''Permanent crops''': 4.06%
* '''Other''': 67.81% (2011)

=== Irrigated land ===
32&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> (2007)

=== Total renewable water resources ===
[[File:Għajn Bierda (12524091145).jpg|thumbnail|A fresh-water spring, Għajn Bierda, at Ras ir-Raħeb]]
0.05&nbsp;km<sup>3</sup> (2011)

== Environment ==
=== Current issues ===
Limited natural fresh water resources; increasing reliance on [[desalination]].

=== International Agreements ===
* '''Party to''': [[Air Pollution]], [[Biodiversity]], [[United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change|Climate Change]], [[Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol]], [[Desertification]], [[Endangered Species]], [[Law of the Sea]], [[Marine Dumping]], [[Ozone Layer Protection]], [[Ship Pollution]], [[Wetlands]]
''signed, but not ratified:''

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{CIA World Factbook}} 

{{Malta Islands}}
{{Malta topics}}
{{Geography of Europe}}
{{Islands of Europe}}

[[Category:Geography of Malta| ]]