| Location: |
Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia
|
| Geographic coordinates: |
21 30 S, 165 30 E
|
| Area: |
total:
19,060 sq km
land:
18,575 sq km
water:
485 sq km
|
| Area - comparative: |
slightly smaller than New Jersey
|
| Maritime claims: |
exclusive economic zone:
200 NM
territorial sea:
12 NM
|
| Climate: |
tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid
|
| Terrain: |
coastal plains with interior mountains
|
| Elevation extremes: |
lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point:
Mont Panie 1,628 m
|
| Natural resources: |
nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese, silver, gold, lead, copper
|
| Land use: |
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
permanent pastures:
12%
forests and woodland:
39%
other:
49% (1993 est.)
|
| Irrigated land: |
160 sq km (1991)
|
| Natural hazards: |
cyclones, most frequent from November to March
|
| Environment - current issues: |
erosion caused by mining exploitation and forest fires
|
|
