2013 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2013 Archive (HTML)
Introduction
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 US National Wildlife Refuge. From 1996 to 2001 the refuge was open to the public; it is now temporarily closed.
Geography
Area
- 6.2 sq km 6.2 sq km 0 sq km includes Eastern Island, Sand Island, and Spit Island
- land
- 6.2 sq km
- total
- 6.2 sq km
- water
- 0 sq km
Area - comparative
about nine times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Climate
subtropical; moderated by prevailing easterly winds
Coastline
15 km
Elevation extremes
- Pacific Ocean 0 m unnamed location 13 m
- highest point
- unnamed location 13 m
- lowest point
- Pacific Ocean 0 m
Environment - current issues
NA
Geographic coordinates
28 12 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; in 2000 the lands and waters of the Midway National Wildlife Refuge were also designated as the Battle of Midway National Monument; Henderson Airfield on Sand Island continues to serve as an emergency landing field for military and civilian aircraft transiting the Pacific Ocean (2012)
Irrigated land
0 sq km (2011)
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
- 0% 0% 100% (2011)
- arable land
- 0%
- other
- 100% (2011)
- permanent crops
- 0%
Location
Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-third of the way from Honolulu to Tokyo
Map references
Oceania
Maritime claims
- 12 nm 200 nm
- exclusive economic zone
- 200 nm
- territorial sea
- 12 nm
Natural hazards
NA
Natural resources
wildlife, terrestrial and aquatic
Terrain
low, nearly level
People and Society
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 2013 est.)
Government
Country name
- none Midway Islands
- 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
Flag description
the flag of the US is used
Legal system
the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Transportation
Airports - with paved runways
- 2 (2013)
- 1,524 to 2,437 m
- 2 (2013)
- total
- 2
Airports - with unpaved runways
- 1 (2013)
- 914 to 1,523 m
- 1 (2013)
- total
- 1
Ports and terminals
Sand Island
Transportation - note
Henderson Field on Sand Island serves as an emergency landing site for aircraft crossing the Pacific Ocean
Military and Security
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
none