| Background: |
The US annexed
the reef in 1922. Its sheltered lagoon served as a way
station for flying boats on Hawaii-to-American Samoa flights
during the late 1930s. There is no flora on the reef, which
is frequently awash, but it does support an abundant and
diverse marine fauna. In 2001, the waters surrounding the
reef were designated a National Wildlife Refuge. |
| Location: |
Oceania, reef in
the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from
Hawaii to American Samoa |
| Geographic
coordinates: |
6 24 N, 162 24 W |
| Area: |
total:
1 sq km
land: 1 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
| Area
- comparative: |
about 1.7 times
the size of The Mall in Washington, DC |
| Maritime
claims: |
exclusive
economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
| Climate: |
tropical, but
moderated by prevailing winds |
| Terrain: |
low and nearly
level |
| Elevation
extremes: |
lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 1 m |
| Natural
resources: |
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 (1996) |
| Natural
hazards: |
wet or awash most
of the time, maximum elevation of about 1 meter makes
Kingman Reef a maritime hazard |
| Environment
- current issues: |
none |
| Geography
- note: |
barren coral
atoll with deep interior lagoon; closed to the public |
| Population: |
uninhabited (July
2001 est.) |
| Country
name: |
conventional
long form: none
conventional short form: Kingman Reef |
| Dependency
status: |
unincorporated
territory of the US; administered from Washington, DC, by
the US Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of the
Interior
note: on 1 September 2000, the Department of
the Interior accepted restoration of its administrative
jurisdiction over Kingman Reef from the Department of the
Navy; Executive Order 3223 signed 18 January 2001
established Kingman Reef National Wildlife Refuge to be
administered by the Director, US Fish and Wildlife Service;
this refuge is managed to protect the terrestrial and
aquatic wildlife of Kingman Reef out to the twelve nautical
mile territorial sea limit |
| 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 |
| Airports: |
lagoon was used
as a halfway station between Hawaii and American Samoa by
Pan American Airways for flying boats in 1937 and 1938 (2000
est.) |
| Military
- note: |
defense is the
responsibility of the US |
| Disputes
- international: |
none |
|
