Geography of Hong Kong

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The geography of Hong Kong primarily consists of three main territories: Hong Kong Island, Kowloon Peninsula, and the New Territories. The geography of Hong Kong is varied and is home to various physical geographical features.

The name "Hong Kong", literally meaning "fragrant harbour", is derived from the area around present-day Aberdeen on Hong Kong Island, where fragrant wood products and fragrant incense were once traded^[1]. The narrow body of water separating Hong Kong Island and Kowloon Peninsula, Victoria Harbour, is one of the deepest natural maritime ports in the world.

[edit] Overview

Hong Kong and its 260 territorial islands and peninsulas are located in the South China Sea, at the mouth of the Pearl River Delta.

The Kowloon Peninsula to the south of Boundary Street and the New Territories to the north of Hong Kong Island were added to Colonial Hong Kong in 1860 and 1898 respectively. 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^[2]. 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. It has a land border with Shenzhen to the north. Of the territory's 1,092 square kilometres, less than 25 percent is developed.^{[citation needed]} The remaining land is reserved as country parks and nature reserves.

[edit] Geographical information

[edit] Location

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

[edit] Area

Total: 1,092 km²
Land: 1,042 km²
Water: 50 km²
Figures published by the United States Central Intelligence Agency^[2].

[edit] Land boundaries

Total: 30 km
Border city: Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, Guangdong Province
Figures published by the United States Central Intelligence Agency^[2]

[edit] Coastline

Total: 733 km
Maritime claims:
Territorial sea: 3 nm
Figures published by the United States Central Intelligence Agency^[2]

[edit] Climate

Main article: Climate of Hong Kong

Hong Kong's climate is subtropical and monsoonal with cool dry winters and hot wet summers. As of 2006, its annual average rainfall is 2,214 mm, though about 80% of the rain falls between May and September. It is occasionally affect by tropical cyclones between May and November, most often from July to September. The mean termperature of Hong Kong ranges from 17 °C in January to 29 °C in July.^[3]

January and February are more cloudy, with occasional cold fronts followed by dry northerly winds. It is not uncommon for temperatures to drop below 10 °C in urban areas. Sub-zero temperatures and frost occur at times on high ground and in the New Territories. March and April can be pleasant although there are occasional spells of high humidity. Fog and drizzle are common on high ground which is exposed to the southeast. May to August are hot and humid with occasional showers and thunderstorms. Afternoon temperatures often exceed 31 °C whereas at night, temperatures generally remain around 26 °C with high humidity. In November and December there are pleasant breezes, plenty of sunshine and comfortable temperatures.^[4]

[edit] Terrain

Hong Kong's terrain is hilly and mountainous with steep slopes. There are lowlands in the northern part of Hong Kong. A significant amount of land in Hong Kong, especially on the Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon peninsula, is reclaimed.

[edit] Extreme points

The lowest elevation in Hong Kong is in South China Sea (0 m) while the highest elevation is at Tai Mo Shan (958 m) in Tsuen Wan, the New Territories.

• Northernmost: Shenzhen River
• Easternmost: Ping Chau
• Southernmost: Po Toi Island
• Westernmost: Fan Lau

Figures published by the United States Central Intelligence Agency^[2]

[edit] 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

[edit] Natural resources

Deepwater harbour, feldspar

[edit] Land use

Arable land: 5.05%
Permanent crops: 1.01%
Other: 93.94% (2001 est.)
Figures published by the United States Central Intelligence Agency^[2]

[edit] Natural hazards

Tropical cyclones frequent Hong Kong during the summer months between June and August typically. Landslides are common after a rainstorm.

[edit] Environmental issues

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

See also: Ecology of Hong Kong

[edit] Geography - note

Hong Kong has 262 islands^[5] including Hong Kong Island, Lantau Island, Cheung Chau, Lamma Island, Peng Chau and Tsing Yi Island.

[edit] 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

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Climate of Hong Kong
• The Lands Department of the Governement of Hong Kong
• Waterfalls in Hong Kong
• "Hong Kong in Figures 2006 Edition", Census and Statistics Department, HKSAR. February 2006.

Coordinates: 22°15′N, 114°10′E

fr:Géographie de Hong Kong ru:География Гонконга zh-yue:香港地理 zh:香港地理