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Location:
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Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, southwest of Indonesia, about halfway from Australia to Sri Lanka
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Geographic coordinates:
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12 30 S, 96 50 E
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Map references:
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Southeast Asia
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Area:
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total: 14 sq km
note: includes the two main islands of West Island and Home Island
water: 0 sq km
land: 14 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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about 24 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
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Land boundaries:
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0 km
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Coastline:
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26 km
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Maritime claims:
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exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
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Climate:
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tropical with high humidity, moderated by the southeast trade winds for about nine months of the year
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Terrain:
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flat, low-lying coral atolls
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 5 m
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Natural resources:
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fish
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Land use:
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arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (1998 est.)
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Irrigated land:
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NA sq km
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Natural hazards:
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cyclone season is October to April
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Environment - current issues:
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fresh water resources are limited to rainwater accumulations in natural underground reservoirs
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Geography - note:
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islands are thickly covered with coconut palms and other vegetation
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