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Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific
Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates: 21 14 S, 159 46 W
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 240 sq km
land: 240 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: 1.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 120 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental
margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds
Terrain: low coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands
in south
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Te Manga 652 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use:
arable land: 9%
permanent crops: 13%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 78% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: typhoons (November to March)
Environment - current issues: NA
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Law of the Sea
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography
Cook Islands, located in the South Pacific Ocean, lies between Hawaii
to the north, and New Zealand to the southwest. Avarua, the capital,
is located on the island of Rarotonga. The Cook Islands are situated
3500km northeast of New Zealand and 1000km southwest of Tahiti in
the South Pacific, forming part of Polynesia.
Climate
The climate varies throughout the islands. Although the trade winds
provide some moderating influence. Rainfall is heaviest in Rarotonga,
while the northern atolls tend to be drier. The coolest months are
June to August, while November to March marks the warmer season.
Most rain falls in the warmest period.
Background: Named after Captain Cook, who sighted them in
1770, the islands became a British protectorate in 1888. By 1900,
administrative control was transferred to New Zealand. Residents
chose self-government with free association with New Zealand in
1965.
The emigration of Cook Islanders to New Zealand in large numbers
and resulting loss of skilled labor and government deficits are
continuing problems.
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