Geography of the Federated States of Micronesia

The Federated States of Micronesia are an island group in the Caroline Islands Archipelago of the western Pacific Ocean, in the Micronesia sub-region of Oceania.

Located about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia at Geographic coordinates: 6°55′N 158°15′E
Map references are Oceania and Micronesia.

Area:

• Land area — 702 square kilometers (271 sq mi)
• Water area (freshwater) — 0 square kilometers (0 sq mi)
• Total area — 702 square kilometers (271 sq mi)

The country's total area is four times the size of Washington, D.C. in the U.S.

Coastline: The combined coastlines of the country's 607 islands equal 6,112 km (3,798 mi).

Maritime claims:

• Territorial sea (12 nmi) —
• Exclusive economic zone (200 nmi) — 2,996,419 km² (1,156,924 sq mi)

The country's 607 islands vary from high mountainous ones to low coral atolls. Geologically, there are volcanic rock outcroppings on the islands of Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Chuuk.

• Lowest point — shoreline mean sea level of the Pacific Ocean — 0 m (0 ft)
• Highest point — Nanlaud on Pohnpei at 782 m (2,566 ft) [1] as indicated on the definitive USGS 1:25,000 scale topographic survey. [2]

The extreme points of the Federated States of Micronesia, the landforms that are farther north, south, east or west — than any other location in the country.

• Northernmost point — Mogmog islet, Ulithi Atoll, Yap State.
• Easternmost point — unnamed headland on Kosrae island, Kosrae State.
• Southernmost point — Kapingamarangi atoll, Pohnpei State.
• Westernmost point — Ngulu Atoll, Yap State.

• Arable land — 2.86%
• Permanent crops — 24.29%
• Other — 72.86%
• Irrigated land — none

Products: Tropical woods and lumber, marine products, deep-seabed minerals, surface mined phosphate.

The Federated States of Micronesia enjoys a tropical climate, with quite even, warm temperatures throughout the year.

Precipitation is generally plentiful, with heavy year-round rainfall. Pohnpei reputedly is one of the wettest places on earth, with up to 330 inches (8.4 m) of rain per year. Nevertheless, drought conditions do occur periodically throughout FSM, especially when the El Niño condition moves into the Western Pacific, when groundwater supplies can dwindle to emergency proportions.

Tropical typhoons are an annual threat, from June to December. The country is located on southern edge of the typhoon belt, with occasionally severe damage, particularly to the low-lying atolls.

Tsunamis and rising sea levels are other natural threats.