ARCHIVE // UM // 1999
Baker Island
1999 Edition — territory
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Economy
Economic overview
(Economy--overview)
[time series]
no economic activity
Geography
Area
[time series]
total: 1.4 sq km land: 1.4 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative
(Area--comparative)
[time series]
about 2.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Climate
[time series]
equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
Coastline
[time series]
4.8 km
Elevation
(Elevation extremes)
[time series]
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 8 m
Environment - current issues
(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 13 N, 176 31 W
Geography - note
(Geography--note)
[time series]
treeless, sparse, and scattered vegetation consisting of grasses, prostrate vines, and low growing shrubs; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife
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: 0% other: 100%
Location
[time series]
Oceania, atoll 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 1891)
Terrain
[time series]
low, nearly level coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef
Government
Country name
[time series]
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Baker Island
Data code
[time series]
FQ
Dependency status
[time series]
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
Flag
(Flag description)
[time series]
the flag of the US is used
Legal system
[time series]
NA
Military
Military - note
(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 from US Fish and Wildlife Service only and generally restricted to scientists and educators; a cemetery and remnants of structures from early settlement are located near the middle of the west coast; visited annually by US Fish and Wildlife Service
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
(Disputes--international)
[time series]
none
Transportation
Airports
[time series]
1 abandoned World War II runway of 1,665 m, completely covered with vegetation and unusable
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
(Transportation--note)
[time series]
there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast