Location:
Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia
Geographic coordinates:
10 30 S, 105 40 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 135 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 135 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 0 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data):
222
Area - comparative:
about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
138.9 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12
nm
[see also: Maritime claims - territorial sea country ranks ]
contiguous zone: 12
nm
[see also: Maritime claims - contiguous zone country ranks ]
exclusive fishing zone: 200
nm
[see also: Maritime claims - exclusive fishing zone country ranks ]
Climate:
tropical with a wet season (December to April) and dry season; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds
Terrain:
steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau
Elevation:
lowest point:
Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point:
Murray Hill 361 m
Natural resources:
phosphate, beaches
Land use:
agricultural land: 0%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
arable land: 0%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 0%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
permanent pasture: 0%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent pasture country ranks ]
other: 100%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use country ranks ]
Irrigated land:
NA
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]
Population distribution:
majority of the population lives on the northern tip of the island
Natural hazards:
the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard
Environment - current issues:
loss of rainforest; impact of phosphate mining
Geography - note:
located along major sea lanes of the Indian Ocean