GEOGRAPHY
Location:
Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Tonga
Geographic coordinates: 19 02 S, 169 52 W
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total area: 260 sq km
land area: 260 sq km
comparative area: 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 64 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical; modified by southeast trade winds
Terrain: steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location near Mutalau settlement
68 m
Natural resources: fish, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 61%
permanent crops: 4%
meadows and pastures: 4%
forest and woodland: 19%
other: 12%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: traditional methods of burning brush and
trees to clear land for agriculture have threatened soil supplies
which are not naturally very abundant
natural hazards: typhoons
international agreements: signed, but not ratified - Law
of the Sea
Geographic note: one of world's largest coral islands
