1990 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1990 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Climate
tropical
Coastline
19.3 km
Comparative area
about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Contiguous zone
12 nm;
Continental shelf
200 m;
Disputes
claimed by the Republic of the Marshall Islands
Environment
subject to occasional typhoons
Extended economic zone
200 nm;
Land boundaries
none
Land use
0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 0% meadows and pastures; 0% forest and woodland; 100% other
Natural resources
none
Note
strategic location 3,700 km west of Honolulu in the North Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way between Hawaii and the Northern Mariana Islands; emergency landing location for transpacific flights
Terrain
atoll of three coral islands built up on an underwater volcano; central lagoon is former crater, islands are part of the rim; average elevation less than four meters
Territorial sea
12 nm
Total area
6.5 km2; land area: 6.5 km2
People and Society
Note
population peaked about 1970 with over 1,600 persons during the Vietnam conflict
Population
195 (January 1990); no indigenous inhabitants; temporary population consists of 11 US Air Force personnel, 27 US civilians, and 151 Thai contractors
Government
Flag
the US flag is used
Long-form name
none
Type
unincorporated territory of the US administered by the US Air Force (under an agreement with the US Department of Interior) since 24 June 1972
Economy
Overview
Economic activity is limited to providing services to US military personnel and contractors located on the island. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.
Communications
Airports
1 with permanent-surface runways 2,987 m
Note
formerly an important commercial aviation base, now used only by US military and some commercial cargo planes
Ports
none; because of the reefs, there are only two offshore anchorages for large ships
Telecommunications
underwater cables to Guam and through Midway to Honolulu; AFRTS radio and television service provided by satellite; stations--1 AM, no FM, no TV
Military and Security
Note
defense is the responsibility of the US