| Location |
Oceania, group of three atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand |
| Geographic coordinates |
9 00 S, 172 00 W |
| Map references |
oceania |
| Area |
total: 10 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 10 sq km |
| Area comparative |
about 17 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC |
| Land boundaries |
0 km |
| Coastline |
101 km |
| Maritime claims |
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
| Climate |
tropical; moderated by trade winds (April to November) |
| Terrain |
low-lying coral atolls enclosing large lagoons |
| Elevation extremes |
lowest point: pacific ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 5 m |
| Natural resources |
NEGL |
| Land use |
arable land: 0% (soil is thin and infertile)
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2001) |
| Irrigated land |
NA sq km |
| Natural hazards |
lies in Pacific typhoon belt |
| Environment - current issues |
very limited natural resources and overcrowding are contributing to emigration to New Zealand |
| Environment - international agreements |
|
| Geography note |
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 |