Short facts about the geography of Cook Islands

Location:

Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Geographic coordinates:

21 14 S, 159 46 W

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total:  240 sq km land:  240 sq km water:  0 sq km

Area - comparative:

1.3 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

120 km

Maritime claims:

continental shelf:  200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone:  200 NM territorial sea:  12 NM

Climate:

tropical; moderated by trade winds

Terrain:

low coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in south

Elevation extremes:

lowest point:  Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point:  Te Manga 652 m

Natural resources:

NEGL

Land use:

arable land:  9% permanent crops:  13% permanent pastures:  0% forests and woodland:  0% other:  78% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land:

NA sq km

Natural hazards:

typhoons (November to March)

Environment - current issues:

NA

Environment - international agreements:

party to:  Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea signed, but not ratified:  Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Source: World Factbook