Geography of Wallis and Futuna
Location: | Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand |
Geographic coordinates: | 13 18 S, 176 12 W |
Map references: | Oceania |
Area: | total: 274 sq km land: 274 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Ile Uvea (Wallis Island), Ile Futuna (Futuna Island), Ile Alofi, and 20 islets |
Area - comparative: | 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC |
Land boundaries: | 0 km |
Coastline: | 129 km |
Maritime claims: | territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
Climate: | tropical; hot, rainy season (November to April); cool, dry season (May to October); rains 2,500-3,000 mm per year (80% humidity); average temperature 26.6 degrees C |
Terrain: | volcanic origin; low hills |
Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Singavi 765 m |
Natural resources: | NEGL |
Land use: | arable land: 7.14% permanent crops: 35.71% other: 57.15% (2005) |
Irrigated land: | NA |
Natural hazards: | NA |
Environment - current issues: | deforestation (only small portions of the original forests remain) largely as a result of the continued use of wood as the main fuel source; as a consequence of cutting down the forests, the mountainous terrain of Futuna is particularly prone to erosion; there are no permanent settlements on Alofi because of the lack of natural fresh water resources |
Geography - note: | both island groups have fringing reefs |