Short facts about the geography of Vanuatu

Location:

Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia

Geographic coordinates:

16 00 S, 167 00 E

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total:  12,200 sq km land:  12,200 sq km water:  0 sq km note:  includes more than 80 islands

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Connecticut

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

2,528 km

Maritime claims:

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines contiguous zone:  24 NM 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 southeast trade winds

Terrain:

mostly mountains of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point:  Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point:  Tabwemasana 1,877 m

Natural resources:

manganese, hardwood forests, fish

Land use:

arable land:  2% permanent crops:  10% permanent pastures:  2% forests and woodland:  75% other:  11% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land:

NA sq km

Natural hazards:

tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April); volcanism causes minor earthquakes

Environment - current issues:

a majority of the population does not have access to a potable and reliable supply of water; deforestation

Environment - international agreements:

party to:  Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified:  none of the selected agreements

Source: World Factbook