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GeographyLocation
Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand Geographic coordinates
20 00 S, 175 00 W
Map references
Oceania
Area World Ranking: 190
Total 747 sq km
Land 717 sq km Water 30 sq km Area - comparative
Four times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries
0 km
Coastline
419 km
Maritime claims
Territorial sea 12 nm
Exclusive economic zone 200 nm Continental shelf 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation Climate
Tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool season (May to December) Terrain
Most islands have limestone base formed from uplifted coral formation; others have limestone overlying volcanic base Elevation extremes
Lowest point Pacific Ocean 0 m
Highest point Unnamed elevation on Kao Island 1,033 m Natural resources
Fish, fertile soil
Land use
Arable land 20%
Permanent crops 14.67% Other 65.33% (2005) Irrigated land
NA
Natural hazards
Cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity on Fonuafo'ou Volcanism Moderate volcanic activity; Fonualei (elev. 180 m) has shown frequent activity in recent years, while Niuafo'ou (elev. 260 m), which last erupted in 1985, has forced evacuations; other historically active volcanoes include Late and Tofua Environment - current issues
Deforestation results as more and more land is being cleared for agriculture and settlement; some damage to coral reefs from starfish and indiscriminate coral and shell collectors; overhunting threatens native sea turtle populations Environment - international agreements
Party to
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution Signed, but not ratified None of the selected agreements Geography - note
Archipelago of 169 islands (36 inhabited)
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Tonga (Nuku'alofa):
 
GPS points from Tonga (Nuku'alofa)
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Tonga - unique among Pacific nations - never completely lost its indigenous governance. The archipelagos of "The Friendly Islands" were united into a Polynesian kingdom in 1845. Tonga became a constitutional monarchy in 1875 and a British protectorate in 1900; it withdrew from the protectorate and joined the Commonwealth of Nations in 1970. Tonga remains the only monarchy in the Pacific.