Fiji:
Geography

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Other pages in this profile of Fiji:
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.


Background	Definition Fiji became independent in 1970, after nearly a century as a British colony. Democratic rule was interrupted by two military coups in 1987, caused by concern over a government perceived as dominated by the Indian community (descendants of contract laborers brought to the islands by the British in the 19th century). The coups and a 1990 constitution that cemented native Melanesian control of Fiji, led to heavy Indian emigration; the population loss resulted in economic difficulties, but ensured that Melanesians became the majority. A new constitution enacted in 1997 was more equitable. Free and peaceful elections in 1999 resulted in a government led by an Indo-Fijian, but a civilian-led coup in May 2000 ushered in a prolonged period of political turmoil. Parliamentary elections held in August 2001 provided Fiji with a democratically elected government led by Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE. Re-elected in May 2006, QARASE was ousted in a December 2006 military coup led by Commodore Voreqe BAINIMARAMA, who initially appointed himself acting president. In January 2007, BAINIMARAMA was appointed interim prime minister.

Location	Definition Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates	Definition 18 00 S, 175 00 E
Map references	Definition Oceania
Area	Definition - World rank and map total: 18,270 sq km land: 18,270 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative	Definition slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries	Definition 0 km
Coastline	Definition 1,129 km
Maritime claims	Definition measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation; rectilinear shelf claim added
Climate	Definition tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation
Terrain	Definition mostly mountains of volcanic origin
Elevation extremes	Definition lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Tomanivi 1,324 m
Natural resources	Definition timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential, hydropower
Land use	Definition - World rank and map arable land: 10.95% permanent crops: 4.65% other: 84.4% (2005)
Irrigated land	Definition 30 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources	Definition 28.6 cu km (1987)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)	Definition total: 0.07 cu km/yr (14%/14%/71%) per capita: 82 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards	Definition cyclonic storms can occur from November to January
Environment - current issues	Definition deforestation; soil erosion
Environment - international agreements	Definition party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note	Definition includes 332 islands; approximately 110 are inhabited