CIA Factbook The World Factbook 1994: TuvaluGeography Location: Oceania, Polynesia, 3,000 km east of Papua New Guinea in the South Pacific Ocean Area: • total area: 26 sq km • land area: 26 sq km • comparative area: about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 24 km Maritime claims: • contiguous zone: 24 nm • exclusive economic zone: 200 nm • territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: none Climate: tropical; moderated by easterly trade winds (March to November); westerly gales and heavy rain (November to March) Terrain: very low-lying and narrow coral atolls Natural resources: fish Land use: • arable land: 0% • permanent crops: 0% • meadows and pastures: 0% • forest and woodland: 0% • other: 100% Irrigated land: NA sq km Environment: • current issues: since there are no streams or rivers and groundwater is not potable, all water needs must be met by catchment systems with storage facilities • natural hazards: severe tropical storms are rare • international agreements: party to—Climate Change, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified—Biodiversity, Law of the Sea