Geography of Fiji
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This article describes the geography of Fiji.
Fiji is a group of volcanic islands in the South Pacific lying about 4,450 km (2,775 miles) southwest of Honolulu and 1,770 km (1,100 miles) north of New Zealand. Its 322 islands range in size from the large Viti Levu (where Suva and 70% of the population are located) and Vanua Levu, to much smaller islands, of which just over 100 are inhabited. The two most important islands are Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. The islands are mountainous, with peaks up to 1200 m, and covered with tropical forests. Other important towns include Labasa, Lautoka, Nadi, and Savusavu. Other islands and island groups include Taveuni and Kadavu (the third and fourth largest islands respectively, the Mamanuca Group (just outside Nadi) and Yasawa Group, which are popular tourist destinations, the Lomaiviti Group, outside of Suva, and the remote Lau Group.
The larger islands contain mountains as high as 1,200 meters (4,000 ft.) rising abruptly from the shore. Heavy rains (up to 304 cm or 120 inches annually) fall on the windward (southeastern) side, covering these sections of the islands with dense tropical forest. Lowlands on the western portions of each of the main islands are sheltered by the mountains and have a well-marked dry season favorable to crops such as sugarcane.
More than half of Fiji's population lives on the island coasts, either in Suva or in smaller urban centers. The interior is sparsely populated due to its rough terrain.
Statistics
- Location
- Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
- Geographic coordinates
- Template:Coor dm
- Map references
- Oceania
- Area
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- Total: 18,270 km²
- Land: 18,270 km²
- Water: 0 km²
- Area - comparative
- Slightly smaller than New Jersey
- Land boundaries
- 0 km
- Coastline
- 1,129 km
- Maritime claims
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- Measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
- Continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation; rectilinear shelf claim added
- Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
- Territorial sea: Fiji comprises 12 nm
- Climate
- Tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation
- Terrain
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- Mostly mountains of volcanic origin
- Elevation extremes
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- Lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
- Highest point: Tomanivi 1,324 m
- Natural resources
- Timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential, hydropower
- Land use
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- Arable land: 10%
- Permanent crops: 4%
- Permanent pastures: 10%
- Forests and woodland: 65%
- Other: 11% (1993 est.)
- Irrigated land
- 10 km² (1993 est.)
- Natural hazards
- Cyclonic storms can occur from November to January
- Environment - current issues
- Deforestation; soil erosion
- Environment - international agreements
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- Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
- Signed, but not ratified: None of the selected agreements
- Geography - note
- Includes 332 islands of which approximately 110 are inhabited
See also: Fiji