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Location:
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Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
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Geographic coordinates:
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13 35 S, 172 20 W
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Map references:
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Oceania
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Area:
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total: 2,944 sq km
water: 10 sq km
land: 2,934 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Rhode Island
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Land boundaries:
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0 km
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Coastline:
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403 km
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Maritime claims:
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exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
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Climate:
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tropical; rainy season (October to March), dry season (May to October)
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Terrain:
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narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rocky, rugged mountains in interior
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mauga Silisili 1,857 m
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Natural resources:
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hardwood forests, fish, hydropower
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Land use:
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arable land: 19.43%
permanent crops: 23.67%
other: 56.9% (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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occasional typhoons; active volcanism
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Environment - current issues:
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soil erosion, deforestation, invasive species, overfishing
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Environment - international agreements:
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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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Geography - note:
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occupies an almost central position within Polynesia
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