Location Oceania, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean, southeast of the Philippines

Geographic coordinates 7 30 N, 134 30 E

Map references Oceania

Area
total: 458 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 458 sq km

Area - comparative slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries 0 km

Coastline 1,519 km

Maritime claims
exclusive fishing zone: 12 NM
territorial sea: 3 NM
extended fishing zone: 200 NM

Climate wet season May to November; hot and humid

Terrain varying geologically from the high, mountainous main island of Babelthuap to low, coral islands usually fringed by large barrier reefs

Elevation extremes
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Ngerchelchuus 242 m

Natural resources forests, minerals (especially gold), marine products, deep-seabed minerals

Land use
arable land: 22%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 78% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land NA sq km

Natural hazards typhoons (June to December)

Environment - current issues inadequate facilities for disposal of solid waste; threats to the marine ecosystem from sand and coral dredging, illegal fishing practices, and overfishing

Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note westernmost archipelago in the Caroline chain, consists of six island groups totaling more than 300 islands; includes World War II battleground of Beliliou (Peleliu) and world-famous rock islands

NOTE: The information regarding Palau on this page is re-published from the 2002 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Palau Geography 2002 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Palau Geography 2002 should be addressed to the CIA.