Location Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India Geographic coordinates 24 00 N, 90 00 E Map references Asia Area Total: 144,000 sq km Land: 133,910 sq km Water: 10,090 sq km Area Comparative: slightly smaller than Wisconsin Land boundaries Total: 4,246 km Border countries: Burma 193 km, India 4,053 km Coastline 580 km Maritime claims Contiguous zone: 18 nm Continental shelf: up to the outer limits of the continental margin Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Territorial sea: 12 nm Climate Tropical; cool, dry winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); cool, rainy monsoon (June to October) Terrain Mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast Elevation extremes Lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m Highest point: Keokradong 1,230 m Natural resources Natural gas, arable land, timber Land use Arable land: 73% Permanent crops: 2% Permanent pastures: 5% Forests and woodland: 15% Other: 5% (1993 est.) Irrigated land 31,000 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards Droughts, cyclones; much of the country routinely flooded during the summer monsoon season Environment—current issues Many people are landless and forced to live on and cultivate flood-prone land; limited access to potable water; water-borne diseases prevalent; water pollution especially of fishing areas results from the use of commercial pesticides; intermittent water shortages because of falling water tables in the northern and central parts of the country; soil degradation; deforestation; severe overpopulation Environment—international agreements Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea