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Baker Island

2004 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 [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 [time series]
no natural fresh water resources
Geographic coordinates [time series]
0 13 N, 176 31 W
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 (1998 est.)
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2001)
Location [time series]
Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and Australia
Map references [time series]
Oceania
Maritime claims [time series]
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 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), terrestrial and aquatic wildlife
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
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]
the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Introduction
Background [time series]
The US took possession of the island in 1857, and its guano deposits were mined by US and British companies during the second half of the 19th century. In 1935, a short-lived attempt at colonization was begun on this island - as well as on nearby Howland Island - but was disrupted by World War II and thereafter abandoned. Presently the island is a National Wildlife Refuge run by the US Department of the Interior; a day beacon is situated near the middle of the west coast.
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 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 (2004 est.)
Transnational Issues
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 (2003 est.)
Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]
none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one small boat landing area along the middle of the west coast
Transportation - note [time series]
there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast