GEOGRAPHY
Location:
Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, south
of Indonesia, about one-half of the way from Australia to Sri
Lanka
Geographic coordinates:
12 30 S, 96 50 E
Map references: Southeast
Asia
Area:
total: 14 sq km
land: 14 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes the two main islands of West Island and
Home Island
Area—comparative:
about 24 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline: 2.6 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: pleasant,
modified by the southeast trade wind for about nine months of
the year; moderate rainfall
Terrain: flat, low-lying
coral atolls
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 5 m
Natural resources:
fish
Land use:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: 100% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA
sq km
Natural hazards:
cyclones may occur in the early months of the year
Environment—current
issues: fresh water resources are limited to rainwater accumulations
in natural underground reservoirs
Environment—international
agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography—note:
two coral atolls thickly covered with coconut palms and other
vegetation
