Wake Island source: CIA World Factbook 1998 (territory of the US) |
Location: Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to the Northern Mariana Islands
Geographic coordinates: 19 17 N, 166 36 E
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 6.5 sq km
land: 6.5 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Areacomparative: about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 19.3 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical
Terrain: atoll of three coral islands built up on an underwater volcano; central lagoon is former crater, islands are part of the rim
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 6 m
Natural resources: none
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: occasional typhoons
Environmentcurrent issues: NA
Environmentinternational agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geographynote: strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean; emergency landing location for transpacific flights
Population: no indigenous inhabitants
note: there are no permanent US military personnel on the island; some civilian
contract personnel remain (1998 est.)
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Wake Island
Data code: WQ
Dependency status: unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington, DC by the Department of the Interior; occasional activities on the island are managed by the US Army under a US Air Force contract
Legal system: NA
Flag description: the flag of the US is used
Economyoverview: Economic activity is limited to providing services to contractors located on the island. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.
Electricitycapacity: NA kW
note: electricity supplied by the US military
Electricityproduction: NA kWh
note: electricity supplied by the US military
Telephone system: satellite communications; 1 DSN circuit off the Overseas
Telephone System (OTS)
domestic: NA
international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM NA, shortwave NA
note: Armed Forces Radio/Television Service (AFRTS) radio service provided by
satellite
Television broadcast stations: NA
note: Armed Forces Radio/Television Service (AFRTS) television service provided by
satellite
Ports and harbors: none; two offshore anchorages for large ships
Airports: 1 (1997 est.)
Airportswith paved runways:
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Transportationnote: formerly an important commercial aviation base, now occasionally used by US military, some commercial cargo planes, and for emergency landings
Militarynote: defense is the responsibility of the US
Disputesinternational: claimed by Marshall Islands
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