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
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total:
2,860 sq km
land:
2,850 sq km
water:
10 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 403 km
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%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: occasional typhoons; active volcanism
Environment - current issues: soil erosion
Environment - international agreements:
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified:
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol