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
water: 10 sq km
land: 2,934 sq km |
| Area - comparative: | slightly smaller than Rhode Island |
| Land boundaries: | 0 km |
| Coastline: | 403 km |
| Maritime claims: | territorial sea: 12 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: 21.2%
permanent crops: 24.38%
other: 54.42% (2001) |
| Irrigated land: | NA sq km |
| 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
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
| Geography - note: | occupies an almost central position within Polynesia
Source: CIA World Factbook
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