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Location: Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian
Ocean, south of Indonesia, about one-half of the way from Australia
to Sri Lanka
Geographic coordinates: 12 30 S, 96 50 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 14 sq km
land: 14 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes the two main islands of West Island and Home
Island
Area - comparative: about 24 times the size of The Mall
in Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 2.6 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: pleasant, modified by the southeast trade winds
for about nine months of the year; moderate rainfall
Terrain: flat, low-lying coral atolls
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 5 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: cyclones may occur in the early months
of the year
Environment - current issues: fresh water resources are
limited to rainwater accumulations in natural underground reservoirs
Geography - note: two coral atolls thickly covered with
coconut palms and other vegetation
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