| Location: |
Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and the Cook Islands |
| Geographic coordinates: |
0 22 S, 160 03 W |
| Map references: |
Oceania |
| Area: |
total: 4.5 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 4.5 sq km |
| Area - comparative: |
about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC |
| Land boundaries: |
0 km |
| Coastline: |
8 km |
| 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
highest point: unnamed location 7 m |
| Natural resources: |
guano (deposits worked until late 1800s), terrestrial and aquatic wildlife |
| Land use: |
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2001) |
| Irrigated land: |
0 sq km (1998 est.) |
| 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 |
