Short facts about the geography of Palau

Location:

Oceania, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean, southeast of the Philippines

Geographic coordinates:

7 30 N, 134 30 E

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total:  458 sq km land:  458 sq km water:  0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

1,519 km

Maritime claims:

continental shelf:  200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone:  12 NM extended fishing zone:  200 NM territorial sea:  3 NM

Climate:

wet season May to November; hot and humid

Terrain:

varying geologically from the high, mountainous main island of Babelthuap to low, coral islands usually fringed by large barrier reefs

Elevation extremes:

lowest point:  Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point:  Mount Ngerchelchauus 242 m

Natural resources:

forests, minerals (especially gold), marine products, deep-seabed minerals

Land use:

arable land:  NA% permanent crops:  NA% permanent pastures:  NA% forests and woodland:  NA% other:  NA%

Irrigated land:

NA sq km

Natural hazards:

typhoons (June to December)

Environment - current issues:

inadequate facilities for disposal of solid waste; threats to the marine ecosystem from sand and coral dredging, illegal fishing practices, and overfishing

Environment - international agreements:

party to:  Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea signed, but not ratified:  none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

includes World War II battleground of Beliliou (Peleliu) and world-famous rock islands; archipelago of six island groups totaling over 200 islands in the Caroline chain

Source: World Factbook