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Samoa - Geography (Facts)

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 land: 2,934 sq km water: 10 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Rhode Island Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 403 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 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: 21.13% permanent crops: 24.3% other: 54.57% (2005) Irrigated land: NA 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, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Geography - note: occupies an almost central position within Polynesia