1992 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1992 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Climate
tropical, but moderated by prevailing easterly winds
Coastline
15 km
Comparative area
about nine times the size of the Mall in Washington, DC
Contiguous zone
12 nm
Continental shelf
200 m (depth)
Disputes
none
Environment
coral atoll
Exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Land area
5.2 km2; includes Eastern Island and Sand Island
Land boundaries
none
Land use
arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100%
Natural resources
fish and wildlife
Note
located 2,350 km west-northwest of Honolulu at the western end of Hawaiian Islands group, about one-third of the way between Honolulu and Tokyo; closed to the public
Terrain
low, nearly level
Territorial sea
12 nm
Total area
5.2 km2
People and Society
Population
453 US military personnel (1992)
Government
Capital
none; administered from Washington, DC
Diplomatic representation
none (territory of the US)
Flag
the US flag is used
Long-form name
none
Type
unincorporated territory of the US administered by the US Navy, under command of the Barbers Point Naval Air Station in Hawaii and managed cooperatively by the US Navy and the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System; legislation before Congress in 1990 proposed inclusion of territory within the State of Hawaii
Economy
Electricity
supplied by US Military
Overview
The economy is based on providing support services for US naval operations located on the islands. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.
Communications
Airports
3 total; 2 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 2,439 m; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Highways
32 km total
Pipelines
7.8 km
Ports
Sand Island
Military and Security
Note
defense is the responsibility of the US