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Location:
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Oceania, group of three atolls 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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9 00 S, 172 00 W
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Map references:
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Oceania
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Area:
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total: 10 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 10 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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about 17 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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101 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; moderated by trade winds (April to November)
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Terrain:
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low-lying coral atolls enclosing large lagoons
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 5 m
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Natural resources:
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NEGL
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Land use:
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arable land: 0% (soil is thin and infertile)
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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lies in Pacific typhoon belt
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Environment - current issues:
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very limited natural resources and overcrowding are contributing to emigration to New Zealand
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Geography - note:
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consists of three atolls, each with a lagoon surrounded by a number of reef-bound islets of varying length and rising to over three meters above sea level
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