Niue is a raised coral atoll, among the world's largest (260 sq km), located in the South Pacific Ocean, to the east of Tonga, south of Samoa and west of Cook Islands, it's a territory freely associated with New Zealand. The capital Alofi is situated along the west coast of the island. The island is surrounded by coral reefs, is formed along the coast from steep cliffs with numerous caves and limestone cavities, and a central plateau, which rises up to 68 metres above sea level. The economy is based on the cultivation of palm trees and fishing, appears to have been recently discovered a huge deposit of uranium. In developing is tourism.