Geography of 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: 2,944 sq km land: 2,934 sq km water: 10 sq km |
Area - comparative: | slightly smaller than Rhode Island |
Land boundaries: | 0 km |
Coastline: | 403 km |
Maritime claims: | territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
Climate: | tropical; rainy season (November to April), dry season (May to October) |
Terrain: | two main islands (Savaii, Upolu) and several smaller islands and uninhabited islets; narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rocky, rugged mountains in interior |
Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mauga Silisili (Savaii) 1,857 m |
Natural resources: | hardwood forests, fish, hydropower |
Land use: | arable land: 21.13% permanent crops: 24.3% other: 54.57% (2005) |
Irrigated land: | NA |
Natural hazards: | occasional typhoons; active volcanism |
Environment - current issues: | soil erosion, deforestation, invasive species, overfishing |
Environment - international agreements: | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
Geography - note: | occupies an almost central position within Polynesia |