2003 Edition

Airports

2 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

total

2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2002) Military Midway Islands

Area

land

6.2 sq km

note

includes Eastern Island, Sand Island, and Spit Island

total

6.2 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

about nine times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Background

The US took formal possession of the islands in 1867. The laying of the trans-Pacific cable, which passed through the islands, brought the first residents in 1903. Between 1935 and 1947, Midway was used as a refueling stop for trans-Pacific flights. The US naval victory over a Japanese fleet off Midway in 1942 was one of the turning points of World War II. The islands continued to serve as a naval station until closed in 1993. Today the islands are a national wildlife refuge. From 1996 to 2001 the refuge was open to the public. It is now temporarily closed. Geography Midway Islands

Climate

subtropical, but moderated by prevailing easterly winds

Coastline

15 km

Country name

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Midway Islands

Dependency status

unincorporated territory of the US; formerly administered from Washington, DC, by the US Navy, under Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific Division; this facility has been operationally closed since 10 September 1993; on 31 October 1996, through a presidential executive order, the jurisdiction and control of the atoll was transferred to the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system

Disputes - international

none This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Economy - overview

The economy is based on providing support services for the national wildlife refuge activities located on the islands. All food and manufactured goods must be imported. Transportation Midway Islands

Elevation extremes

highest point

unnamed location 13 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

NA

Flag description

the flag of the US is used Economy Midway Islands

Geographic coordinates

28 13 N, 177 22 W

Geography - note

a coral atoll managed as a national wildlife refuge and open to the public for wildlife-related recreation in the form of wildlife observation and photography, sport fishing, snorkeling, and scuba diving; the refuge is temporarily closed for reorganization at present (2003) People Midway Islands

Highways

paved

NA km

total

NA km

unpaved

NA km

Irrigated land

0 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

0%

other

100% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

0%

Legal system

the laws of the US, where applicable, apply

Location

Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-third of the way from Honolulu to Tokyo

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone

200 NM

territorial sea

12 NM

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the US Transnational Issues Midway Islands

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

wildlife, terrestrial and aquatic

Pipelines

7.8 km

Population

no indigenous inhabitants; approximately 40 people make up the staff of US Fish and Wildlife Service and their services cooperator living at the atoll (July 2003 est.) Government Midway Islands

Ports and harbors

Sand Island

Terrain

low, nearly level

Waterways

none