Airports [time series]

1 with permanent-surface runways 2,440 to 3,659 m

Note [time series]

formerly an important commercial aviation base, now used only by US military and some commercial cargo planes

Ports [time series]

none; because of the reefs, there are only two offshore anchorages for large ships

Telecommunication systems (Telecommunications) [time series]

underwater cables to Guam and through Midway to Honolulu; AFRTS radio and television service provided by satellite; stations--1 AM, no FM, no TV

Note [time series]

defense is the responsibility of the US

Electricity [time series]

supplied by US military

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

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

Climate [time series]

tropical

Coastline [time series]

19.3 km Contiguous zone: 12 nm; Continental shelf: 200 m (depth); Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm; Territorial sea: 12 nm

Area - comparative (Comparative area) [time series]

about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Disputes - international (Disputes) [time series]

claimed by the Republic of the Marshall Islands

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

subject to occasional typhoons

Land boundaries [time series]

none

Land use [time series]

arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100%

Natural resources [time series]

none

Note [time series]

strategic location 3,700 km west of Honolulu in the North Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way between Hawaii and the Northern Mariana Islands; emergency landing location for transpacific flights

Terrain [time series]

atoll of three coral islands built up on an underwater volcano; central lagoon is former crater, islands are part of the rim; average elevation less than four meters

Area (Total area) [time series]

6.5 km2; land area: 6.5 km2

Flag [time series]

the US flag is used

Country name (Long-form name) [time series]

none

Government type (Type) [time series]

unincorporated territory of the US administered by the US Air Force (under an agreement with the US Department of Interior) since 24 June 1972

Note [time series]

population peaked about 1970 with over 1,600 persons during the Vietnam conflict

Population [time series]

195 (January 1990); no indigenous inhabitants; 302 temporary population

Wake Island