2003 Edition

Airports

1 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

total

1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2002)

Area

land

6.5 sq km

total

6.5 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Background

The US annexed Wake Island in 1899 for a cable station. An important air and naval base was constructed in 1940-41. In December 1941, the island was captured by the Japanese and held until the end of World War II. In subsequent years, Wake was developed as a stopover and refueling site for military and commercial aircraft transiting the Pacific. Since 1974, the island's airstrip has been used by the US military and some commercial cargo planes, as well as for emergency landings. There are over 700 landings a year on the island. Geography Wake Island

Climate

tropical

Coastline

19.3 km

Country name

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Wake Island

Dependency status

unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington, DC, by the Department of the Interior; activities on the island are managed by the US Air Force

Disputes - international

claimed by Marshall Islands This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Economy - overview

Economic activity is limited to providing services to contractors located on the island. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.

Electricity - production

NA Communications Wake Island

Elevation extremes

highest point

unnamed location 6 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

NA

Flag description

the flag of the US is used Economy Wake Island

Geographic coordinates

19 17 N, 166 36 E

Geography - note

strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean; emergency landing location for transpacific flights People Wake Island

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 two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to the Northern Mariana Islands

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 Wake Island

Natural hazards

occasional typhoons

Natural resources

none

Population

no indigenous inhabitants

note

US military personnel have left the island, but contractor personnel remain; as of October 2001, 200 contractor personnel were present (July 2003 est.) Government Wake Island

Ports and harbors

none; two offshore anchorages for large ships

Radio broadcast stations

AM 0, FM NA, shortwave NA

note

Armed Forces Radio/Television Service (AFRTS) radio service provided by satellite (1998)

Telephone system

domestic

NA

general assessment

satellite communications; 1 DSN circuit off the Overseas Telephone System (OTS)

international

NA

Television broadcast stations

0 (1997) Transportation Wake Island

Terrain

atoll of three coral islands built up on an underwater volcano; central lagoon is former crater, islands are part of the rim

Transportation - note

formerly an important commercial aviation base, now used by US military, some commercial cargo planes, and for emergency landings Military Wake Island

Waterways

none