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COOK ISLANDS
Map of COOK ISLANDS
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Location:
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Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand |
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Geographic coordinates:
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21 14 S, 159 46 W |
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Area:
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total: 236.7 sq km
land: 236.7 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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1.3 times the size of Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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120 km |
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin |
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Climate:
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tropical oceanic; moderated by trade winds; a dry season from April to November and a more humid season from December to March |
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Terrain:
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low coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in south |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Te Manga 652 m |
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Natural resources:
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NEGL |
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Land use:
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arable land: 16.67%
permanent crops: 8.33%
other: 75% (2005) |
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Irrigated land:
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NA |
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Natural hazards:
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typhoons (November to March) |
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Environment - current issues:
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NA |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
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Population:
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21,923 (July 2008 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA |
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Nationality:
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noun: Cook Islander(s)
adjective: Cook Islander |
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Ethnic groups:
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Cook Island Maori (Polynesian) 87.7%, part Cook Island Maori 5.8%, other 6.5% (2001 census) |
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Religions:
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Cook Islands Christian Church 55.9%, Roman Catholic 16.8%, Seventh-Day Adventists 7.9%, Church of Latter Day Saints 3.8%, other Protestant 5.8%, other 4.2%, unspecified 2.6%, none 3% (2001 census) |
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Languages:
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English (official), Maori |
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Literacy:
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definition: NA
total population: 95%
male: NA%
female: NA% |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Cook Islands
former: Harvey Islands |
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Dependency status:
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self-governing in free association with New Zealand; Cook Islands is fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs and defense, in consultation with the Cook Islands |
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Government type:
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self-governing parliamentary democracy |
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Capital:
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name: Avarua
geographic coordinates: 21 12 S, 159 46 W
time difference: UTC-10 (5 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time) |
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Administrative divisions:
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none |
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Independence:
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none (became self-governing in free association with New Zealand on 4 August 1965 and has the right at any time to move to full independence by unilateral action) |
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National holiday:
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Constitution Day, first Monday in August (1965)
Source: http://cia.gov
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