Geography Niue

map of niue



coral chasm in niue



niue s coastline

niue 269 km (104 sq mi) raised coral atoll in southern pacific ocean, east of tonga. geographic co-ordinates 19°03′48″s 169°52′11″w / 19.06333°s 169.86972°w / -19.06333; -169.86972. there 3 outlying coral reefs within exclusive economic zone, no land area:

besides these, albert meyer reef, (20°53′s, 172°19′w, 5 km (3.1 mi) long , wide, least depth 3 m (9.8 ft), 326 km (203 mi) southwest) not officially claimed niue, , existence of haymet rocks (26°s, 160°w, 1,273 km (791 mi) ese) in doubt.

niue 1 of world s largest coral islands. terrain consists of steep limestone cliffs along coast central plateau rising 60 metres (200 ft) above sea level. coral reef surrounds island, major break in reef being in central western coast, close capital, alofi. notable feature number of limestone caves near coast.

the island oval in shape (with diameter of 18 kilometres (11 mi)), 2 large bays indenting western coast, alofi bay in centre , avatele bay in south. between these promontory of halagigie point. small peninsula, tepā point (blowhole point), close settlement of avatele in southwest. of population resides close west coast, around capital, , in northwest.

some of soils geochemically unusual. extremely weathered tropical soils, high levels of iron , aluminium oxides (oxisol) , mercury, , contain high levels of natural radioactivity. there no uranium, radionucleides th-230 , pa-231 head decay chains. same distribution of elements found naturally on deep seabeds, geochemical evidence suggests origin of these elements extreme weathering of coral , brief sea submergence 120,000 years ago. endothermal upwelling, mild volcanic heat draws deep seawater through porous coral, may contribute.

no adverse health effects radioactivity or other trace elements have been demonstrated, , calculations show level of radioactivity low detected in population. these unusual soils rich in phosphate, not accessible plants, being in insoluble form of iron phosphate, or crandallite. thought similar radioactive soils may exist on lifou , mare near new caledonia, , rennell in solomon islands, no other locations known.

according world health organization, residents evidently susceptible skin cancer. in 2002 niue reported 2,482 deaths per 100,000 people – far higher other country.

niue separated new zealand international date line. time difference 23 hours during southern hemisphere winter , 24 hours when new zealand uses daylight saving time.

climate

the island has tropical climate, rainfall occurring between november , april.