Kiribati
1 25 N, 173 00 E
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Banaba 81 m
0 km
typhoons can occur any time, but usually November to March; occasional tornadoes; low level of some of the islands make them very sensitive to changes in sea level
phosphate (production discontinued in 1979)
arable land: 2.74%
permanent crops: 47.95%
other: 49.31% (2005)
heavy pollution in lagoon of south Tarawa atoll due to heavy migration mixed with traditional practices such as lagoon latrines and open-pit dumping; ground water at risk
Maritime equatorial in the central islands of the group. The islands to the north and south are more tropical. The trade winds blow between March and October, making this the most pleasant time of the year, while the highest rainfall (December to May) is concentrated on the northern islands. November to February is more wet and humid than the rest of the year.
time difference: UTC+12
