Kiribati Geography

What is the terrain and geography like in Kiribati?

Geography - note

21 of the 33 islands are inhabited; Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean - the others are Makatea in French Polynesia, and Nauru; Kiribati is the only country in the world to fall into all four hemispheres (northern, southern, eastern, and western)

Climate

tropical; marine, hot and humid, moderated by trade winds

Kiribati Use of Natural Resources

Kiribati Environment

Climate:

tropical; marine, hot and humid, moderated by trade winds

Terrain:

mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive reefs

Natural Resources:

phosphate (production discontinued in 1979)

Natural Hazards:

typhoons can occur any time, but usually November to March; occasional tornadoes; low level of some of the islands make them very sensitive to changes in sea level

Environmental Issues:

heavy pollution in lagoon of south Tarawa atoll due to heavy migration mixed with traditional practices such as lagoon latrines and open-pit dumping; ground water at risk

Environment - International Agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Kiribati Geography

Geographic Location	Oceania
Total Area	313 Square Miles 811 Square Kilometers
Land Area	313 Square Miles 811 Square Kilometers
Coastline	710 Miles 1,143 Kilometers
Geographic Coordinates	1 25 N, 173 00 E
Terrain	mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive reefs
Highest Point	81 Meters
Highest Point Location	unnamed location on Banaba 81 m
Lowest Point Location	Pacific Ocean 0 m
Natural Resources	phosphate (production discontinued in 1979)
Time Zone	UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) time zone note: Kiribati has three time zones: the Gilbert Islands group at UTC+12, the Phoenix Islands at UTC+13, and the Line Islands at UTC+14

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