"Geography | AboutHK.Com - more information about HK"

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. 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.

Overview

Hong Kong and its 260 territorial islands 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. 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. The remaining land is reserved as country parks and nature reserves.

Geographical information

Location

Location of Hong Kong with respect to the Pearl River Delta

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

Area

Total: 1,092 km²
Land: 1,042 km²
Water: 50 km²
Figures published by the United States Central Intelligence Agency

Land boundaries

Hong Kong borders the city of Shenzhen in Guangdong Province.

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

Coastline

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

Climate

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. A significant amount of land in Hong Kong, especially on the Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon penninsula, is reclaimed.

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:
* Easternmost: Ping Chau
* Southernmost: Po Toi Island
* Westernmost:

Figures published by the United States Central Intelligence Agency

Principal peaks of 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

Deepwater harbour, feldspar

Land use

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

Natural hazards

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

Environmental issues

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

Geography - note

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