1989 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1989 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Climate
tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool season (May to December)
Coastline
419 km
Comparative area
slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC
Continental shelf
no specific limits
Environment
archipelago of 170 islands (36 inhabited); subject to cyclones (October to April); deforestation
Extended economic zone
200 nm
Land boundaries
none
Land use
25% arable land; 55% permanent crops; 6% meadows and pastures; 1 2% forest and woodland; 2% other
Natural resources
fish, fertile soil
Note
located about 2,250 km northnorthwest of New Zealand, about twothirds of the way between Hawaii and
Terrain
most islands have limestone base formed from uplifted coral formation; others have limestone overlying volcanic base
Territorial sea
1 2 nm
Total area
748 km2; land area: 718 km2
Total area
200km South Pacific Ocean Jalahi Niuatopulapu Vova'u ._ Group Ha'apai Group Tongatapu Group Stt refiontl map X Minerva Reef not shown