2007 Edition

Airports

1 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

total

1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2006)

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, as well as for emergency landings. All operations on the island were suspended and all personnel evacuated in August 2006 with the approach of super typhoon IOKE (category 5), which struck the island with sustained winds of 250 kph and a 6 m storm surge inflicting major damage. A US Air Force assessment and repair team returned to the island in September and restored limited function to the airfield and facilities. The future status of activities on the island will be determined upon completion of the survey and assessment. 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 conducted by the US Air Force

Disputes - international

claimed by Marshall Islands This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

Economy - overview

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

Electricity - production

NA kWh 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 39 E

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

0 sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

0%

other

100% (2005)

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; the US Air Force is responsible for overall administration and operation of the island; the launch support facility is administered by the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) Transnational Issues Wake Island

Natural hazards

occasional typhoons

Natural resources

none

Population

no indigenous inhabitants

note

since super typhoon IOKE, a small military contingent along with 75 contractor personnel have returned to the island to conduct clean-up and restore basic operations on the island (July 2006 est.) Government Wake Island

Ports and terminals

none; two offshore anchorages for large ships

Radio broadcast stations

AM 0, FM 0, shortwave 0

note

Armed Forces Radio/Television Service (AFRTS) radio service provided by satellite (2005)

Telephone system

domestic

NA

general assessment

satellite communications; 2 DSN circuits off the Overseas Telephone System (OTS)

international

NA

Television broadcast stations

note

Armed Forces Radio/Television Service (AFRTS) radio service provided by satellite (2005) Transportation Wake Island

Terrain

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

Transportation - note

there are no commercial or civilian flights to and from Wake Island, except in direct support of island missions; emergency landing is available Military Wake Island