Location: Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and the Cook Islands
Geographic coordinates:
0 22 S, 160 01 W
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 4.5 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land:
4.5 sq km
water:
0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
[see also: Land boundaries country ranks ]
Coastline:
8 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
Climate:
tropical; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
Terrain:
sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
[see also: Elevation extremes - lowest point country ranks ]
highest point:
unnamed location 7 m
Natural resources:
guano (deposits worked until late 1800s), terrestrial and aquatic wildlife
Land use:
arable land: 0%
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops:
0%
other:
100% (2011)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km (2011)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]
Natural hazards:
the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island poses a maritime hazard
Environment - current issues:
no natural fresh water resources
Geography - note:
sparse bunch grass, prostrate vines, and low-growing shrubs; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife