Geographic coordinates: 9 00 S, 172 00 W
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total:
10 sq km
land:
10 sq km
water:
0 sq km
Area - comparative: about 17 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 101 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 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%
permanent pastures:
0%
forests and woodland:
0%
other:
100% (1993 est.)
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