Malta is the largest island in an archipelago in the central Mediterranean, some 80 km (50 mi) south of the Italian island of Sicily across the Malta Channel.
Malta is located east of its sister islands of Gozo and Comino.
It lies on the Malta plateau, a shallow shelf formed from the high points of a land bridge between Sicily and North Africa that became isolated as sea levels rose after the last Ice Age.
Malta is therefore situated in the zone between the Eurasian and African tectonic plates.

Numerous bays along the indented coastline of the islands provide good harbours.
The landscape consists of low hills with terraced fields.
The highest point in Malta is Ta' Dmejrek, at 253 m (830 ft), near Dingli.
Although there are some small rivers at times of high rainfall, there are no permanent rivers or lakes on Malta.
However, some watercourses have fresh water running all year round, such as those at Ras ir-Raħeb near Baħrija and at l-Imtaħleb.

Phytogeographically, Malta belongs to the Liguro-Tyrrhenian province of the Mediterranean Region within the Boreal Kingdom.
According to the WWF, the territory of Malta belongs to the ecoregion of "Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands and Scrub".

Some minor islands off the main island of Malta include:
Dellimara Island (Marsaxlokk)
Filfla (Żurrieq/Siġġiewi)
Għallis Rock (Naxxar)
St Paul's Islands (Mellieħa)
Manoel Island (Gżira) - connected to the mainland via a bridge
 
Mistra Rocks (San Pawl il-Baħar)
Qawra Point/Ta' Fraben Island (San Pawl il-Baħar)
Sala Rock (Żabbar)
Xrobb l-Għaġin Rock (Marsaxlokk)
Malta is the largest island in an archipelago in the central Mediterranean, some 80 km (50 mi) south of the Italian island of Sicily across the Malta Channel. Malta is located east of its sister islands of Gozo and Comino. It lies on the Malta plateau, a shallow shelf formed from the high points of a land bridge between Sicily and North Africa that became isolated as sea levels rose after the last Ice Age. Malta is therefore situated in the zone between the Eurasian and African tectonic plates.
Numerous bays along the indented coastline of the islands provide good harbours. The landscape consists of low hills with terraced fields. The highest point in Malta is Ta' Dmejrek, at 253 m (830 ft), near Dingli. Although there are some small rivers at times of high rainfall, there are no permanent rivers or lakes on Malta. However, some watercourses have fresh water running all year round, such as those at Ras ir-Raħeb near Baħrija and at l-Imtaħleb.
Phytogeographically, Malta belongs to the Liguro-Tyrrhenian province of the Mediterranean Region within the Boreal Kingdom. According to the WWF, the territory of Malta belongs to the ecoregion of "Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands and Scrub".
Some minor islands off the main island of Malta include:
Dellimara Island (Marsaxlokk)
Filfla (Żurrieq/Siġġiewi)
Għallis Rock (Naxxar)
St Paul's Islands (Mellieħa)
Manoel Island (Gżira) - connected to the mainland via a bridge
 
Mistra Rocks (San Pawl il-Baħar)
Qawra Point/Ta' Fraben Island (San Pawl il-Baħar)
Sala Rock (Żabbar)
Xrobb l-Għaġin Rock (Marsaxlokk)
Malta (island)