| Background: |
The US took
possession of the island in 1857, and its guano deposits
were mined by US and British companies during the second
half of the 19th century. In 1935, a short-lived attempt at
colonization was begun on this island - as well as on nearby
Howland Island - but was disrupted by World War II and
thereafter abandoned. Presently the island is a National
Wildlife Refuge run by the US Department of the Interior; a
day beacon is situated near the middle of the west coast. |
| Location: |
Oceania, atoll in
the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from
Hawaii to Australia |
| Geographic
coordinates: |
0 13 N, 176 31 W |
| Area: |
total:
1.4 sq km
land: 1.4 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
| Area
- comparative: |
about 2.5 times
the size of The Mall in Washington, DC |
| Maritime
claims: |
exclusive
economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
| Climate: |
equatorial; scant
rainfall, constant wind, burning sun |
| Terrain: |
low, nearly level
coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef |
| Elevation
extremes: |
lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 8 m |
| Natural
resources: |
guano (deposits
worked until 1891), terrestrial and aquatic wildlife |
| Land
use: |
arable land:
0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100% |
| Irrigated
land: |
0 sq km (1993) |
| Natural
hazards: |
the narrow
fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime
hazard |
| Environment
- current issues: |
no natural fresh
water resources |
| Geography
- note: |
treeless, sparse,
and scattered vegetation consisting of grasses, prostrate
vines, and low growing shrubs; primarily a nesting,
roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and
marine wildlife |
| Population: |
uninhabited
note: American civilians evacuated in 1942
after Japanese air and naval attacks during World War II;
occupied by US military during World War II, but abandoned
after the war; public entry is by special-use permit from US
Fish and Wildlife Service only and generally restricted to
scientists and educators; a cemetery and remnants of
structures from early settlement are located near the middle
of the west coast; visited annually by US Fish and Wildlife
Service (July 2001 est.) |
| Country
name: |
conventional
long form: none
conventional short form: Baker Island |
| Dependency
status: |
unincorporated
territory of the US; administered from Washington, DC, by
the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the
Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system |
| Legal
system: |
the laws of the
US, where applicable, apply |
| Flag
description: |
the flag of the
US is used |
| Economy
- overview: |
no economic
activity |
| Ports
and harbors: |
none; offshore
anchorage only; note - there is one small boat landing area
along the middle of the west coast |
| Airports: |
1 abandoned World
War II runway of 1,665 m, completely covered with vegetation
and unusable (2000 est.) |
| Transportation
- note: |
there is a day
beacon near the middle of the west coast |
| Military
- note: |
defense is the
responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast
Guard |
| Disputes
- international: |
none |
|
