1999 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1999 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Area
total: 4.5 sq km land: 4.5 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative
about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Climate
tropical; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
Coastline
8 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 7 m
Environment--current issues
no natural fresh water resources
Environment--international agreements
party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geographic coordinates
0 22 S, 160 03 W
Geography--note
sparse bunch grass, prostrate vines, and low-growing shrubs; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife
Irrigated land
0 sq km (1998)
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100%
Location
Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to the Cook Islands
Map references
Oceania
Maritime claims
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural hazards
the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard
Natural resources
guano (deposits worked until late 1800s)
Terrain
sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef
People and Society
Population
uninhabited note: Millersville settlement on western side of island occasionally used as a weather station from 1935 until World War II, when it was abandoned; reoccupied in 1957 during the International Geophysical Year by scientists who left in 1958; public entry is by special-use permit from US Fish and Wildlife Service only and generally restricted to scientists and educators; visited annually by US Fish and Wildlife Service
Government
Country name
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Jarvis Island
Data code
DQ
Dependency status
unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington, DC by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system
Flag description
the flag of the US is used
Legal system
NA
Economy
Economy--overview
no economic activity
Transportation
Transportation--note
there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast
Military and Security
Military--note
defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast Guard
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international
none