Tonga--Geography

CIA FactbookThe World Factbook 1993: Tonga Geography

Location: Oceania, 2,250 km north-northwest of New Zealand, about two-thirds of the way between Hawaii and New Zealand

Area: total area: 748 km2 land area: 718 km2 comparative area: slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 419 km

Maritime claims: continental shelf: not specified exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: none

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

Natural resources: fish, fertile soil

Land use: arable land: 25% permanent crops: 55% meadows and pastures: 6% forest and woodland: 12% other: 2%

Irrigated land: NA km2

Environment: archipelago of 170 islands (36 inhabited); subject to cyclones (October to April); deforestation