Geography of Malta

Malta is an archipelago in the central Mediterranean, roughly 90 km south of Sicily and 290 km from North Africa. The islands are low limestone plateaux tilted towards the north-east, so the south-west coast is lined with sea cliffs while the north-east has the harbours and bays where the towns grew.

The islands

• Malta, the largest island, holds the capital Valletta, the airport and the great majority of the population.
• Gozo (Għawdex), to the north-west, is greener and more rural, with its own capital, Victoria.
• Comino (Kemmuna), between them, is a nature reserve with a handful of residents and the Blue Lagoon.
• Smaller islets include Cominotto, Filfla (a protected bird reserve off the south coast), St Paul's Islands and Manoel Island in Marsamxett Harbour.

Coastline, bays and beaches

The coastline alternates between sandy bays in the north (Għadira, Golden Bay, Għajn Tuffieħa, Paradise Bay), the two deep natural harbours on the east coast (the Grand Harbour and Marsamxett, either side of Valletta), rocky foreshores used for swimming around Sliema and the south-east, and sea cliffs in the west and south rising to about 250 m at Dingli. Sea caves include the Blue Grotto and the Inland Sea at Dwejra in Gozo. See the beach database.

Valleys and rural areas

Dry valleys (widien) cut the plateau and carry water only after rain; terraced fields, carob and olive trees, and garigue scrub cover the countryside. Buskett, near Rabat, is the only sizeable woodland. Gozo's landscape of flat-topped hills and valleys is the most rural part of the country.

Regions and where people live

Statistically Malta is divided into six districts: Southern Harbour, Northern Harbour, South Eastern, Western, Northern, and Gozo and Comino. The harbour districts around Valletta, Sliema, St Julian's and Birkirkara are the most densely populated; the Northern district (St Paul's Bay, Mellieħa, Mosta) has grown fastest. See Population and Cities and towns.

Natural environment

Natura 2000 sites protect cliffs, salt marshes (Għadira, Salina, Simar) and marine areas. Malta has no rivers or lakes; water comes from reverse-osmosis desalination and groundwater. Summers are dry and the islands are vulnerable to drought and heat.