Geography of Tuvalu

Geography Of Tuvalu

The Western Pacific nation of Tuvalu, formerly known as the Ellice Islands, is situated 4,000 kilometers (2,500 mi) northeast of Australia. It is one half of the way from Hawaii to Australia. Tuvalu consists of three reef islands and six true atolls (see Islands of Tuvalu). Its small scattered group of atolls has poor soil and a total land area of only about 26 km², less than 10 sq mi (30 km2).

Tuvalu has westerly gales and heavy rain from November to March and tropical temperatures moderated by easterly winds from April to November. The land is very low-lying, with narrow coral atolls. The highest elevation is 4.6 metres (15 ft) above sea level on Niulakita.

Location: Oceania, island group of nine islands comprising three reef islands and six true atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia.

Geographic coordinates: 8°00′S 178°00′E / 8°S 178°E / -8; 178

Map references: Oceania

Area:
total: 26 km²
land: 26 km²
water: 0 km²

Area - comparative: 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 24 kilometres (15 mi)

Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nmi (44 km)
exclusive economic zone: 200 nmi (370 km)
territorial sea: 12 nmi (22 km)

Climate: tropical; moderated by easterly trade winds (March to November); westerly gales and heavy rain (November to March)

Terrain: low-lying and narrow coral atolls

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location, 4.6 metres (15 ft) on Niulakita

Extreme points:

This is a list of the extreme points of Tuvalu, the points that are farther north, south, east or west than any other location.

• Northern-most point – Lakena island, Nanumea
• Eastern-most point – Niuoko island, Nukulaelae
• Southern-most point – Niulakita
• Western-most point - Lakena island, Nanumea

Natural resources: fish

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 66.67%
other: 33.33% (2005)

Irrigated land: NA km²

Natural hazards: severe tropical storms are usually rare, but, in 1997, there were three cyclones; the low level of islands makes them very sensitive to sea-level rise.