Oceania > Vanuatu > Vanuatu Geography Profile 2012

Vanuatu: Vanuatu Geography Profile 2012

2012/04/06

Vanuatu Geography Profile 2012

It is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. Vanuatu is situated between Fiji and Australia with about 80 islands that comprise the group of the New Hebrides. It extends north and south in a narrow band of more than 500 miles (800 km). Vanuatu has a total area of 5,700 square miles (14,760 km2). The largest of 13 main islands are Espiritu Santo, Malekula, Efate and. All the main islands are of volcanic origin and are mountainous and heavily forested. The peak rises 5,940 feet (1,811 m) on Espiritu Santo. There are several active volcanoes. The climate is hot and humid, but somewhat tempered by trade winds.

Location:

Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia

Geographic coordinates:

16 00 S, 167 00 E

Map references:

Oceania

Area

Total:

12,189 sq km

Comparison to the world:

163

Land:

12,189 sq km

Water:

0sq km

Note:

includes more than 80 islands, about 65 of which are inhabited

Area comparative:

slightly larger than Connecticut

Land boundaries Total:

0 km

Land boundaries Note:

Border countries

Countries:

Coastline

Value:

2,528 km

Note:

Maritime claims

Territorial sea:

12 nm

Exclusive economic zone:

200 nm

Climate:

tropical; moderated by southeast trade winds from May to October; moderate rainfall from November to April; may be affected by cyclones from December to April

Terrain:

mostly mountainous islands of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains

Elevation extremes

Lowest point:

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Highest point:

Tabwemasana 1,877 m

Note:

Natural resources:

manganese, hardwood forests, fish

Land use

Kind:

arable land

Percentage:

1,64%

Year:

2005

Note:

Kind:

permanent crops

Percentage:

6,97%

Note:

Kind:

other

Percentage:

91,39%

Note:

Irrigated land

Value:

Natural hazards:

tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April); volcanic eruption on Aoba (Ambae) island began 27 November 2005, volcanism also causes minor earthquakes; tsunamis

Environment - current issues:

most of the population does not have access to a reliable supply of potable water; deforestation

Environment - international agreements

Party to:

Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94

Signed but not ratified:

none of the selected agreements

Geography note:

a Y-shaped chain of four main islands and 80 smaller islands; several of the islands have active volcanoes