total
area: 270,534 sq km (104,440 sq.mi.)
comparative
area: about the size of Colorado
note:
includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty
Islands,
Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec
Islands
Cities: Capital--Wellington (326,900).
Other cities--Auckland (910,200), Christchurch (312,600).
Terrain: Highly varied, from snow-capped mountains to lowland
plains.
Climate: Subtropical to temperate, with sharp regional
contrasts
Location:
Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia
Map
references: Oceania
Land
boundaries: 0 km
Coastline:
15,134 km
Maritime
claims:
continental
shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental
exclusive
economic zone: 200 nm
International
disputes: territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross Dependency)
Natural
resources: natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower,
gold, limestone
Environment:
current
issues: deforestation; soil erosion; native flora and
fauna
hard-hit by species introduced from outside
natural
hazards: earthquakes are common, though usually not
Note:
about 80% of the population lives in cities
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