ARCHIVE // UM // 1997

Howland Island

1997 Edition — territory

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Economy
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
no economic activity
Geography
Area [time series]
total: 1.6 sq km land : 1.6 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative [time series]
about three times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Climate [time series]
equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
Coastline [time series]
6.4 km
Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point : unnamed location 3 m
Environment - current issues [time series]
no natural fresh water resources
International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]
party to : NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geographic coordinates [time series]
0 48 N, 176 38 W
Geography - note [time series]
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; feral cats
Irrigated land [time series]
0 sq km (1993)
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
arable land: 0% permanent crops : 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 5% other: 95%
Location [time series]
Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Map references [time series]
Oceania
Maritime claims [time series]
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea : 12 nm
Natural hazards [time series]
the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard
Natural resources [time series]
guano (deposits worked until late 1800s)
Terrain [time series]
low-lying, nearly level, sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef; depressed central area
Government
Country name [time series]
conventional long form : none conventional short form: Howland Island
Data code [time series]
HQ
Dependency status [time series]
unincorporated territory of the US; administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System
Flag (Flag description) [time series]
the flag of the US is used
Capital (National capital) [time series]
none; administered from Washington, DC
Military
Military - note [time series]
defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast Guard
People
Population [time series]
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 only and generally restricted to scientists and educators
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
none HUNGARY
Transportation
Airports [time series]
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
Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]
none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one boat landing area along the middle of the west coast
Transportation - note [time series]
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