Geographic coordinates: 20 00 S, 175 00 W
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total:
748 sq km
land:
718 sq km
water:
30 sq km
Area - comparative: four times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 419 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf:
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
Climate: tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool season (May to December)
Terrain: most islands have limestone base formed from uplifted coral formation; others have limestone overlying volcanic base
Elevation extremes:
lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point:
unnamed location on Kao Island 1,033 m
Natural resources: fish, fertile soil
Land use:
arable land:
24%
permanent crops:
43%
permanent pastures:
6%
forests and woodland:
11%
other:
16% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity on Fonuafo'ou
Environment - current issues: deforestation results as more and more land is being cleared for agriculture and settlement; some damage to coral reefs from starfish and indiscriminate coral and shell collectors; overhunting threatens native sea turtle populations
Environment - international agreements:
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: archipelago of 170 islands (36 inhabited)
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