Geography of Hong Kong

The name Hong Kong, literally meaning fragrant harbour, is derived from the area around present-day Aberdeen and Wong Chuk Hang on the Hong Kong Island, where fragrant trees were once abundant and exported.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the Peoples Republic of China, can be sub-divided into 3 parts:

1. Hong Kong Island
2. Kowloon Peninsula, which is made up of Kowloon and New Kowloon
3. New Territories and outlying Islands

Description

Hong Kong Island is located in the South China Sea at the mouth of the Pearl River. The Kowloon Peninsula (south of Boundary Street) and the New Territories to the north of the Hong Kong Island were added to the colony in 1860 and 1898 respectively. The New Territories includes over 200 surrounding smaller islands. The body of water between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon Peninsula is Victoria Harbour, one of the deepest maritime ports in the world. The landscape of Hong Kong is fairly hilly to mountainous with steep slopes. The highest point in the territory is Tai Mo Shan, at a height of 958 metres. Lowlands exist in the northwestern part of the New Territories.

Hong Kong is 60 km east of Macau on the opposite side of the Pearl River estuary. Hong Kong has a land border with Shenzhen to the north. Of the territory's 1,102 square kilometres, less than 25 percent is developed. The remaining land is reserved as country parks and nature reserves.

See also: The Geography section in the article about Hong Kong

Geographical information

Location

Hong Kong is located in eastern Asia, on the south coast of the People's Republic of China, facing the South China Sea.

Area

Total: 1,104 km²
Land: 1,060 km²
Water: 44 km²

Location of Hong Kong with respect to the Pearl River Delta

Hong Kong borders the city of Shenzhen in Guangdong Province.

Land boundaries

Total: 30 km
Border city: Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, Guangdong Province

Coastline

733 km
Maritime claims:
Territorial sea: 3 nm

Total sea area of Hong Kong (including Victoria Harbour): 1652.21 km².

Climate

See also: Climate of Hong Kong

Hong Kong's climate is subtropical. It is cool and dry in the wintertime which lasts from around December to March, and is hot and rainy from spring through summer. It is warm, sunny, and dry in autumn. It is sometimes stated that spring and autumn are not clear-cut. Hong Kong is rarely directly hit by tropical cyclones, but is affected by an average of around six in a year. The ecology of Hong Kong is mostly affected by the results of climatic changes. Hong Kong's climate is seasonal due to alternating monsoon wind direction between winter and summer. Hong Kong has been geologically stable for millions of years. However, flora and fauna in Hong Kong are altered by climatic change, sea level alternation and human impact. The absolute highest and lowest recorded temperatures at the Hong Kong Observatory are 36.1°C and 0.0°C respectively.

Terrain

Hong Kong's terrain is hilly and mountainous with steep slopes. There are lowlands in the northern part of Hong Kong.

Extreme points

• Lowest elevation: South China Sea, 0 m
• Highest elevation: Tai Mo Shan, 958 m, in the New Territories

• Northernmost: to be included
• Easternmost: Ping Chau
• Southernmost: to be included
• Westernmost: to be included

Principal peaks of Hong Kong

Main article: List of mountains, peaks and hills in Hong Kong

1. Tai Mo Shan - 958 m, Tsuen Wan
2. Lantau Peak (Fung Wong Shan) - 934 m, on Lantau Island
3. Sunset Peak (Tai Tung Shan) - 869 m, on Lantau Island
4. Sze Fong Shan - 785 m
5. Lin Fa Shan - 766 m, on Lantau Island
6. Nei Lak Shan - 751 m, on Lantau Island
7. Yi Tung Shan - 747 m, on Lantau Island
8. Ma On Shan - 702 m
9. The Hunch Backs (Ngau Ngak Shan) - 674 m
10. Grassy Hill - 647 m
11. Wong Leng - 639 m
12. Buffalo Hill - 606 m
13. West Buffalo Hill - 604 m
14. Kowloon Peak (Fei Ngo Shan) - 602 m
15. Shun Yeung Fung - 591 m
16. Tiu Shau Ngam - 588 m
17. Kai Kung Leng - 585 m
18. Castle Peak - 583 m
19. Lin Fa Shan, Tsuen Wan - 578 m
20. Tate's Cairn (Tai Lo Shan) - 577 m

Natural resources

Outstanding deepwater harbour, feldspar

Land use

Arable land: 6%
Permanent crops: 1%
Permanent pastures: 1%
Forests and woodland: 20%
Other: 72% (1997 est.)
Irrigated land: 20 km² (1997 est.)

Natural hazards

Occasional tropical cyclones and landslides, especially after a rainstorm.

Environment

Current issues

• Air and water pollution from rapid urbanisation
• Exploration of natural species
• Introduction of exotic species

See also: Ecology of Hong Kong

Geography - note

Hong Kong has 262 islands including Hong Kong Island, Lantau Island, Cheung Chau, Lamma Island, Peng Chau and Tsing Yi Island.

See also

• Country parks and conservation in Hong Kong
• Beaches of Hong Kong
• Rivers of Hong Kong
• List of bays in Hong Kong
• List of buildings, sites and areas in Hong Kong
• Geography of China

External links

• Climate of Hong Kong
• The Lands Department of the Governement of Hong Kong
• Waterfalls in Hong Kong

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