1993 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1993 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Area
total area: 1.4 km2 land area: 1.4 km2 comparative area: about 2.3 times the size of the Mall in Washington, DC
Climate
equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
Coastline
4.8 km
Environment
treeless, sparse, and scattered vegetation consisting of grasses, prostrate vines, and low growing shrubs; lacks fresh water; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife
International disputes
none
Irrigated land
0 km2
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100%
Location
in the North Pacific Ocean, just north of the Equator, 2,575 km southwest of Honolulu, about halfway between Hawaii and Australia
Map references
Oceania
Maritime claims
contiguous zone: 12 nm continental shelf: 200 m or depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural resources
guano (deposits worked until 1891)
Terrain
low, nearly level coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef
People and Society
Population
uninhabited; note - American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air and naval attacks during World War II; occupied by US military during World War II, but abandoned after the war; public entry is by special-use permit only and generally restricted to scientists and educators; a cemetery and cemetery ruinsare located near the middle of the west coast
Government
Capital
none; administered from Washington, DC
Digraph
FQ
Names
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Baker Island
Type
unincorporated territory of the US administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system
Economy
Overview
no economic activity
Communications
Airports
1 abandoned World War II runway of 1,665 m
Note
there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast
Ports
none; offshore anchorage only, one boat landing area along the middle of the west coast