Discover

Map of the Marshall Islands

Map of Oceania showing the location of the Marshall Islands

The Marshalls are comprised of 29 atolls and five major islands, which form two parallel groups--the "Ratak" (sunrise) chain and the "Ralik"(sunset) chain. Two-thirds of the nation's population lives in Majuro and Ebeye. The outer islands are sparsely populated due to lack of employment opportunities and economic development.
'Location:'
Oceania, group of atolls and reefs in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Papua New Guinea
'Geographic coordinates:'
'Map references:'
Oceania
'Area:'

''total:''
181.3 km²

''land:''
181.3 km²

''water:''
0 km²

''note:''
includes the atolls of Bikini, Enewetak, and Kwajalein
'Area - comparative:'
about the size of Washington, DC
'Land boundaries:'
0 km
'Coastline:'
370.4 km
'Maritime claims:'

''contiguous zone:''
24 nm

''exclusive economic zone:''
200 nm

''territorial sea:''
12 nm
'Climate:'
wet season from May to November; hot and humid; islands border typhoon belt
'Terrain:'
low coral limestone and sand islands
'Elevation extremes:'

''lowest point:''
Pacific Ocean 0 m

''highest point:''
unnamed location on Likiep 10 m
'Natural resources:'
phosphate deposits, marine products, deep seabed minerals
'Land use:'

''arable land:''
0%

''permanent crops:''
60%

''permanent pastures:''
0%

''forests and woodland:''
0%

''other:''
40%
'Irrigated land:'
NA km²
'Natural hazards:'
occasional typhoons
'Environment - current issues:'
inadequate supplies of potable water
'Environment - international agreements:'

''party to:''
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution

''signed, but not ratified:''
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
'Geography - note:'
two archipelagic island chains of 30 atolls and 1,152 islands; Bikini and Enewetak are former US nuclear test sites; Kwajalein, the famous World War II battleground, is now used as a US missile test range

Contents

See also

See also

★ Marshall Islands