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Page 2 of 8 Physical Features Malta has no mountains or rivers. A series of low hills with terraced fields on the slopes characterise the Island. The coastline of Malta is well indented, thus providing numerous harbours, bays, creeks, sandy beaches and rocky coves. The length of the shoreline round Malta is 136 km, and 43km round Gozo. Position The distance between Malta and the nearest point in Sicily is 93 km. The distance from the nearest point on the North African mainland (Tunisia) is 288 km. Gibraltar is 1,826 km to the west and Alexandria is 1,510 km to the east. This strategic position has allowed Malta to develop as an important trading post. The Malta Freeport is one of the Mediterranean's leading ports for container transhipments. The Maltese Islands fall within the following co-ordinates: Northern Latitude 36, 00, 00
Eastern Longitude 14, 36, 00
Climate It is the climate, more than anything else that has made Malta an important tourist resort in the centre of the Mediterranean. The total annual rainfall is about 50cm (20ins). The average winter temperature is 12 degC (54F.) There are really only two seasons in Malta: the dry summer season, and the mild winter season. The average rainfall is 578 mm (22.756 ins). Rain rarely, if ever, falls during the summer months.
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