1995 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1995 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Area
total area: 1.4 sq km land area: 1.4 sq km 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
current issues: no natural fresh water resources natural hazards: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard international agreements: NA
International disputes
none
Irrigated land
0 sq km
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100%
Location
Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Map references
Oceania
Maritime claims
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural resources
guano (deposits worked until 1891)
Note
treeless, sparse, and scattered vegetation consisting of grasses, prostrate vines, and low growing shrubs; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife
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 ruins are 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
Transportation
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; note - there is one boat landing area along the middle of the west coast
Military and Security
Note
defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast Guard ________________________________________________________________________ BANGLADESH