Short facts about the geography of Western Samoa

Location:

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

Geographic coordinates:

13 35 S, 172 20 W

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total:  2,860 sq km land:  2,850 sq km water:  10 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Rhode Island

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

403 km

Maritime claims:

exclusive economic zone:  200 NM territorial sea:  12 NM

Climate:

tropical; rainy season (October to March), dry season (May to October)

Terrain:

narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rocky, rugged mountains in interior

Elevation extremes:

lowest point:  Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point:  Mauga Silisili 1,857 m

Natural resources:

hardwood forests, fish, hydropower

Land use:

arable land:  19% permanent crops:  24% permanent pastures:  0% forests and woodland:  47% other:  10%

Irrigated land:

NA sq km

Natural hazards:

occasional typhoons; active volcanism

Environment - current issues:

soil erosion

Environment - international agreements:

party to:  Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified:  none of the selected agreements

Source: World Factbook