1993 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1993 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Area
total area: 1 km2 land area: 1 km2 comparative area: about 1.7 times the size of the Mall in Washington, DC
Climate
tropical, but moderated by prevailing winds
Coastline
3 km
Environment
barren coral atoll with deep interior lagoon; wet or awash most of the time
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, 1,600 km south-southwest of Honolulu, about halfway between Hawaii and American Samoa
Map references
Oceania
Maritime claims
contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 m or depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural resources
none
Note
maximum elevation of about 1 meter makes this a navigational hazard; closed to the public
Terrain
low and nearly level with a maximum elevation of about 1 meter
People and Society
Population
uninhabited
Government
Capital
none; administered from Washington, DC
Digraph
KQ
Names
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Kingman Reef
Type
unincorporated territory of the US administered by the US Navy
Economy
Overview
no economic activity
Communications
Airports
lagoon was used as a halfway station between Hawaii and American Samoa by Pan American Airways for flying boats in 1937 and 1938
Ports
none; offshore anchorage only
Military and Security
Note
defense is the responsibility of the US