es as the primary transshipment country for
US-bound cocaine from South America, with an estimated 90% of annual
cocaine movements toward the US stopping in Mexico; major drug
syndicates control the majority of drug trafficking throughout the
country; producer and distributor of ecstasy; significant
money-laundering center; major supplier of heroin and largest
foreign supplier of marijuana and methamphetamine to the US market
(2007)

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Micronesia, Federated States of

Introduction
Micronesia, Federated States of

Background:

In 1979 the Federated States of Micronesia, a UN Trust Territory
under US administration, adopted a constitution. In 1986
independence was attained under a Compact of Free Association with
the US, which was amended and renewed in 2004. Present concerns
include large-scale unemployment, overfishing, and overdependence on
US aid.

Geography
Micronesia, Federated States of

Location:

Oceania, island group in the North Pacific Ocean, about
three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia

Geographic coordinates:

6 55 N, 158 15 E

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 702 sq km
land: 702 sq km
water: 0 sq km (fresh water only)
note: includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Chuuk (Truk) Islands, Yap Islands,
and Kosrae (Kosaie)

Area - comparative:

four times the size of Washington, DC (land area only)

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

6,112 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; heavy year-round rainfall, especially in the eastern
islands; located on southern edge of the typhoon belt with
occasionally severe damage

Terrain:

islands vary geologically from high mountainous islands to low,
coral atolls; volcanic outcroppings on Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Chuuk

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Dolohmwar (Totolom) 791 m

Natural resources:

forests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals, phosphate

Land use:

arable land: 5.71%
permanent crops: 45.71%
other: 48.58% (2005)

Irrigated land:

NA

Natural hazards:

typhoons (June to December)

Environment - current issues:

overfishing, climate change, pollution

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Cli