| Background: |
Discovered by the
US early in the 19th century, the island was officially
claimed by the US in 1857. Both US and British companies
mined for guano until about 1890. Earhart Light is a day
beacon near the middle of the west coast that was partially
destroyed during World War II, but has since been rebuilt;
it is named in memory of famed aviatrix Amelia EARHART. The
island is administered by the US Department of the Interior
as a National Wildlife Refuge. |
| Location: |
Oceania, island
in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from
Hawaii to Australia |
| Geographic
coordinates: |
0 48 N, 176 38 W |
| Area: |
total:
1.6 sq km
land: 1.6 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
| Area
- comparative: |
about three 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-lying, nearly
level, sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing
reef; depressed central area |
| Elevation
extremes: |
lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 3 m |
| Natural
resources: |
guano (deposits
worked until late 1800s), terrestrial and aquatic wildlife |
| Land
use: |
arable land:
0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 5%
other: 95% |
| Irrigated
land: |
0 sq km (1998) |
| Natural
hazards: |
the narrow
fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime
hazard |
| Environment
- current issues: |
no natural fresh
water resources |
| Geography
- note: |
almost totally
covered with grasses, prostrate vines, and low-growing
shrubs; small area of trees in the center; 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; visited annually by US Fish and
Wildlife Service (July 2001 est.) |
| Country
name: |
conventional
long form: none
conventional short form: Howland 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: |
airstrip
constructed in 1937 for scheduled refueling stop on the
round-the-world flight of Amelia EARHART and Fred NOONAN -
they left Lae, New Guinea, for Howland Island, but were
never seen again; the airstrip is no longer serviceable
(2000 est.) |
| Transportation
- note: |
Earhart Light is
a day beacon near the middle of the west coast that was
partially destroyed during World War II, but has since been
rebuilt; named in memory of famed aviatrix Amelia EARHART |
| Military
- note: |
defense is the
responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast
Guard |
| Disputes
- international: |
none |
|
