2005 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2005 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
Airports
3 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways
- total
- 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways
- total
- 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Area
- land
- 6.2 sq km
- total
- 6.2 sq km
- water
- 0 sq km note: includes Eastern Island, Sand Island, and Spit Island
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; 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; 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 20 October, 2005 ======================================================================
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 (2004) 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% (2001)
- 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
Population
no indigenous inhabitants; approximately 40 people make up the staff of US Fish and Wildlife Service and their services contractor living at the atoll (July 2005 est.) Government Midway Islands
Ports and harbors
Sand Island
Terrain
low, nearly level
Transportation - note
airfield serves as an emergency landing site for commercial aircraft crossing the Pacific Ocean Military Midway Islands