Coordinates: 19 2 S 169 52 W
Population: 1,444 (2008 est.)
With an area slightly larger than Washington DC (about 260 square kilometers) Niue has the distinction of being one of, if not the largest coral island in the world. Located in the South Pacific east of Tonga and the International Date Line, it also has a unique tradition pertaining to the nut from which it takes its name. When a stranger of note first visits a Niuean village, it’s customary to present him or her with coconuts—a rather civilized and courteous gesture for a place formerly known as Savage Island. Niue relies heavily on economic aid from New Zealand and may well be the only territory in the world whose chief export is coconut cream. Unfortunately for the shrinking population though, neither this nor the other commodities sold to neighboring countries come close to offsetting the cost of importing over $9 million in food, manufactured goods, machinery, and fuel.
Ben Keene is the editor of Oxford Atlas of the World. Check out some of his previous places of the week.