Tokelau: Background & Geography
| Introduction | Tokelau |
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Background:
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Originally settled by Polynesian emigrants from surrounding island groups, the Tokelau Islands were made a British protectorate in 1889. They were transferred to New Zealand administration in 1925. |
| Geography | Tokelau |
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Location:
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Oceania, group of three atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand |
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Geographic coordinates:
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9 00 S, 172 00 W |
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Map references:
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Oceania |
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Area:
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total: 10 sq km
water: 0 sq km land: 10 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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about 17 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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101 km |
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Maritime claims - as described in UNCLOS 1982 (see Notes and Definitions):
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territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM |
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Climate:
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tropical; moderated by trade winds (April to November) |
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Terrain:
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low-lying coral atolls enclosing large lagoons |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 5 m |
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Natural resources:
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NEGL |
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Land use:
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arable land: 0% (soil is thin and infertile)
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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NA sq km |
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Natural hazards:
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lies in Pacific typhoon belt |
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Environment - current issues:
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very limited natural resources and overcrowding are contributing to emigration to New Zealand |
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Geography - note:
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consists of three atolls, each with a lagoon surrounded by a number of reef-bound islets of varying length and rising to over three meters above sea level |