1991 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1991 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Climate
equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
Coastline
6.4 km
Comparative area
about 2.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Environment
almost totally covered with grasses, prostrate vines, and low-growing shrubs; small area of trees in the center; lacks fresh water; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife; feral cats
Land boundaries
none
Land use
arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest and woodland 5%; other 95%
Maritime claims
Contiguous zone: 12 nm; Continental shelf: 200 m (depth); Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm; Territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural resources
guano (deposits worked until late 1800s)
Note
remote location 2,575 km southwest of Honolulu in the North Pacific Ocean, just north of the Equator, about halfway between Hawaii and Australia
Terrain
low-lying, nearly level, sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef; depressed central area
Total area
1.6 km2; land area: 1.6 km2
People and Society
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
Population
uninhabited
Government
Long-form name
none
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
airstrip constructed in 1937 for scheduled refueling stop on the round-the-world flight of Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan--they left Lae, New Guinea, for Howland Island, but were never seen again; the airstrip is no longer serviceable
Note
Earhart Light is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast that was partially destroyed during World War II, but has since been rebuilt in memory of famed aviatrix Amelia Earhart
Ports
none; offshore anchorage only, 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 _%_