Covering a total area of 750 sq.km (289 sq mi), Tonga is an archipelago composed of 169 islands, of which only 36 islands are inhabited and is located in the South Pacific Ocean. The three largest islands are Tongatapu, Ha'apai, and Vava'u, with Tongatapu being the most populated. Due to its location within the Pacific Ring of Fire, Tonga experiences relatively frequent volcanic activity, with its last eruption occurring in 2009, near the island of Hunga Tonga - approximately 6.8 miles (11 km) north of the capital city.
Tonga's western islands make up the Volcanic Arch, and are therefore volcanic in origin, having been formed from heated materials that rose to the surface of the ocean. The eastern Tongan islands sit above the Tonga ridge, running parallel to the Volcanic Arch, and were formed from elevated limestone and uplifted coral formations. These islands are not volcanic. Located east of Tonga, in the depths of the ocean, is the Tonga Trench - one of the deepest parts of the Pacific.
Its deepest point, known as the Horizon Deep, plunges 35,702 ft. (10,882 m) below the surface of the water. There are no significant rivers within the Tonga archipelago, however the largest lake is located on the island of Tofua, and is a steaming hot volcano crater with a depth of 1,600 ft. (500 m).
The highest point of the country is an unnamed elevation on Kao Island that peaks at 3,389 ft. (1,033 m); the lowest point is the Pacific Ocean (0m).
Tonga (officially, the Kingdom of Tonga) is divided into 5 island divisions. In alphabetical order, these divisions are: Éua, Ha’apai, Ongo Niua, Tongatapu and Vavaú. These administrative divisions are further subdivided into a total of 23 districts.
Covering a total area of 750 sq.km, Tonga is an archipelago composed of 169 islands, of which only 36 islands are inhabited. Located on the northern coast of Tongatapu (the archipelago’s largest island) is, Nukua’lofa– the capital and the largest city of Tonga. It is the administrative, commercial and economic center of the country. The harbor at Nukua’lofa is the chief port and one of the busiest in Tonga.
The Kingdom of Tonga is a sovereign nation in Polynesia, composed of an archipelago of 169 islands located in the South Pacific Ocean. It is geographically positioned both in the Southern and Eastern hemispheres of the Earth. Tonga is surrounded by Fiji, Wallis and Futuna to the northwest; Samoa to the northeast; Niue to the east; Kermadec to the southwest; New Caledonia and Vanatu to the farther west. Tonga is completely surrounded by the Pacific Ocean.
Regional Maps: Map of Oceania
The above blank map represents the Kingdom of Tonga – a sovereign nation in Polynesia, composed of an archipelago of 169 islands located in the South Pacific Ocean. The above map can be downloaded, printed and used for geography education purposes like map-pointing and coloring activities.
The above outline map represents the Kingdom of Tonga – a sovereign nation in Polynesia, composed of an archipelago of 169 islands located in the South Pacific Ocean. It is often affectionately called the “Friendly Islands”.
Legal Name | Kingdom of Tonga |
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Flag |
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Capital City | Nuku'alofa |
21 08 S, 175 12 W | |
Total Area | 747.00 km2 |
Land Area | 717.00 km2 |
Water Area | 30.00 km2 |
Population | 104,494 |
Currency | Pa'anga (TOP) |
GDP | $450.35 Million |
GDP Per Capita | $4,364.02 |
This page was last updated on February 25, 2021