Location:
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:
21 14 S, 159 46 W
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 236 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 236 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):
215
Area - comparative:
1.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
120 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12
nm
[see also: Maritime claims - territorial sea country ranks ]
exclusive economic zone: 200
nm
[see also: Maritime claims - exclusive economic zone country ranks ]
continental shelf: 200
nm or to the edge of the continental margin
[see also: Maritime claims - continental shelf country ranks ]
Climate:
tropical oceanic; moderated by trade winds; a dry season from April to November and a more humid season from December to March
Terrain:
low coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in south
Elevation:
lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point:
Te Manga 652 m
Natural resources:
coconuts (copra)
Land use:
agricultural land: 8.4%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
arable land: 4.2%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 4.2%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
permanent pasture: 0%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent pasture country ranks ]
forest: 64.6%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 27%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use country ranks ]
Irrigated land:
NA
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]
Population distribution:
most of the population is found on the island of Rarotonga
Natural hazards:
tropical cyclones (November to March)
Environment - current issues:
limited land presents solid and liquid waste disposal problems; soil destruction and deforestation; environmental degradation due to indiscriminant use of pesticides; improper disposal of pollutants; overfishing and destructive fishing practices; over dredging of lagoons and coral rubble beds; unregulated building
Environment - international agreements:
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
Geography - note:
the northern Cook Islands are seven low-lying, sparsely populated, coral atolls; the southern Cook Islands, where most of the population lives, consist of eight elevated, fertile, volcanic isles, including the largest, Rarotonga, at 67 sq km