 Tongan Geography | Tonga's Geography | Tongas Geography |
Tongan Geography | Tonga's Geography | Tongas Geography |
Tonga's Geography | Tongas Geography |
 MapTongan GeographyLocation: Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand Geographic coordinates: 20 00 S, 175 00 W Map references: Oceania Area: total: 748 sq km land: 718 sq km water: 30 sq km Area - comparative: four times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 419 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation Climate: tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool season (May to December) Terrain: most islands have limestone base formed from uplifted coral formation; others have limestone overlying volcanic base Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Kao Island 1,033 m Natural resources: fish, fertile soil Land use: arable land: 23.61% permanent crops: 43.06% other: 33.33% (2001) Irrigated land: NA Natural hazards: cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity on Fonuafo'ou Environment - current issues: deforestation results as more and more land is being cleared for agriculture and settlement; some damage to coral reefs from starfish and indiscriminate coral and shell collectors; overhunting threatens native sea turtle populations Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Geography - note: archipelago of 169 islands (36 inhabited) |
