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Location:
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Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
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Geographic coordinates:
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13 18 S, 176 12 W
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Map references:
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oceania
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Area:
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total: 274 sq km
note: includes Ile Uvea (Wallis Island), Ile Futuna (Futuna Island), Ile Alofi, and 20 islets
water: 0 sq km
land: 274 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
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Land boundaries:
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0 km
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Coastline:
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129 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
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Climate:
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tropical; hot, rainy season (November to April); cool, dry season (May to October); rains 2,500-3,000 mm per year (80% humidity); average temperature 26.6 degrees C
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Terrain:
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volcanic origin; low hills
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Singavi 765 m
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Natural resources:
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NEGL
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Land use:
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arable land: 5%
permanent crops: 25%
other: 70% (2001)
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Irrigated land:
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NA sq km
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Natural hazards:
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NA
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Environment - current issues:
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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 fresh water resources
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Geography - note:
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both island groups have fringing reefs
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