1995 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1995 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Area
total area: 1.6 sq km land area: 1.6 sq km comparative area: about 2.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Climate
equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
Coastline
6.4 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: 5% other: 95%
Location
Oceania, island 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 late 1800s)
Note
almost totally covered with grasses, prostrate vines, and low-growing shrubs; small area of trees in the center; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife; feral cats
Terrain
low-lying, nearly level, sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef; depressed central area
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
Government
Capital
none; administered from Washington, DC
Digraph
HQ
Names
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Howland 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
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; 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 ________________________________________________________________________ HUNGARY