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Geography and Environment of Cook Islands
Terrain, climate, natural resources, hazards, and environmental conditions of Cook Islands.
Detailed geography
Physical Features
- Terrain
- low coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in south
- Climate
- tropical; moderated by trade winds
- Highest Point
- 652 — Te Manga 652 m
- Lowest Point
- Pacific Ocean 0 m
Borders and Area
- Area (Comparative)
- 1.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Natural Resources and Hazards
- Natural Resources
- The Cook Islands possesses modest but strategically significant natural resources. The surrounding Pacific waters represent the most economically important resource, supporting commercial and subsistence fishing across the country's vast exclusive economic zone of approximately 1.9 million square kilometers. The marine environment also holds potential wealth in the form of seabed minerals, particularly manganese nodules and cobalt-rich crusts found on the ocean floor, which have attracted growing international interest in deep-sea mining exploration. Freshwater resources are limited, with rainfall being the primary source on most islands. Agricultural land supports the cultivation of tropical crops including coconuts, citrus fruits, pineapples, and root vegetables, primarily for local consumption and small-scale export. The islands' fertile volcanic soils on the southern group contribute to this agricultural productivity. Pearl farming, particularly black pearl cultivation in the northern atolls such as Manihiki and Penrhyn, has developed into a notable industry and export commodity. Tourism, while not a traditional natural resource, increasingly depends on the islands' natural assets — pristine lagoons, coral reefs, and biodiversity — making environmental conservation a growing economic priority. Renewable energy resources, particularly solar power, are being developed to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels and leverage the islands' abundant sunshine.
- Natural Hazards
- typhoons (November to March)
Environment and Land Use
- Current Environmental Issues
- NA
- International Agreements
- Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection