Location:
Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:
13 18 S, 176 12 W
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 142 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 142 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Ile Uvea (Wallis Island), Ile Futuna (Futuna Island), Ile Alofi, and 20 islets
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data):
221
Area - comparative:
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
129 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 ]
Climate:
tropical; hot, rainy season (November to April); cool, dry season (May to October); rains 250-300 cm per year (80% humidity); average temperature 26.6 degrees Celsius
Terrain:
volcanic origin; low hills
Elevation:
lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point:
Mont Singavi (on Futuna) 522 m
Natural resources:
NEGL
Land use:
agricultural land: 42.8%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
arable land: 7.1%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 35.7%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
permanent pasture: 0%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent pasture country ranks ]
forest: 41.9%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 15.3%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use country ranks ]
Irrigated land:
0 sq km
(2012)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]
Natural hazards:
cyclones; tsunamis
Environment - current issues:
deforestation (only small portions of the original forests remain) largely as a result of the continued use of wood as the main fuel source; as a consequence of cutting down the forests, the mountainous terrain of Futuna is particularly prone to erosion; there are no permanent settlements on Alofi because of the lack of natural freshwater resources; lack of soil fertility on the islands of Uvea and Futuna negatively impacts agricultural producitivity
Geography - note:
both island groups have fringing reefs; Wallis contains several prominent crater lakes
