Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 0, FM NA, shortwave NA note: Armed Forces Radio/Television Service (AFRTS) radio service provided by satellite (1998)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: satellite communications; 1 DSN circuit off the Overseas Telephone System (OTS) domestic: NA international: NA

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

0 (1997)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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

Electricity - production [time series]

NA

Area [time series]

total: 6.5 sq km land: 6.5 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

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

Climate [time series]

tropical

Coastline [time series]

19.3 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 6 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

NA

Geographic coordinates [time series]

19 17 N, 166 36 E

Geography - note [time series]

strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean; emergency landing location for transpacific flights

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 two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to the Northern Mariana Islands

Map references [time series]

Oceania

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

occasional typhoons

Natural resources [time series]

none

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

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Wake Island

Dependency status [time series]

unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington, DC, by the Department of the Interior; activities on the island are conducted by the US Air Force

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

the flag of the US is used

Legal system [time series]

the laws of the US, where applicable, apply

Background [time series]

The US annexed Wake Island in 1899 for a cable station. An important air and naval base was constructed in 1940-41. In December 1941, the island was captured by the Japanese and held until the end of World War II. In subsequent years, Wake was developed as a stopover and refueling site for military and commercial aircraft transiting the Pacific. Since 1974, the island's airstrip has been used by the US military and some commercial cargo planes, as well as for emergency landings. There are over 700 landings a year on the island.

Military - note [time series]

defense is the responsibility of the US; launch support facility is part of the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site (RTS) administered by US Army Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC)

Population [time series]

no indigenous inhabitants note: US military personnel have left the island, but contractor personnel remain; as of October 2001, 200 contractor personnel were present (July 2005 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

claimed by Marshall Islands

Airports [time series]

1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

none; two offshore anchorages for large ships

Transportation - note [time series]

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