| Location: |
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
|
| Geographic coordinates: |
13 35 S, 172 20 W
|
| Area: |
total:
2,860 sq km
land:
2,850 sq km
water:
10 sq km
|
| Area - comparative: |
slightly smaller than Rhode Island
|
| Maritime claims: |
exclusive economic zone:
200 NM
territorial sea:
12 NM
|
| Climate: |
tropical; rainy season (October to March), dry season (May to October)
|
| Terrain: |
narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rocky, rugged mountains in interior
|
| Elevation extremes: |
lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point:
Mauga Silisili 1,857 m
|
| Natural resources: |
hardwood forests, fish, hydropower
|
| Land use: |
arable land:
19%
permanent crops:
24%
permanent pastures:
0%
forests and woodland:
47%
other:
10%
|
| Natural hazards: |
occasional typhoons; active volcanism
|
| Environment - current issues: |
soil erosion
|
| Environment - international agreements: |
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
|
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