ARCHIVE // UM // 2007

Wake Island

2007 Edition — territory

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Communications
Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]
AM 0, FM 0, shortwave 0 (Armed Forces Radio/Television Service (AFRTS) radio service provided by satellite (2005)
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
general assessment: satellite communications; 2 DSN circuits off the Overseas Telephone System (OTS) domestic: NA international: NA
Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]
0 (2005)
Economy
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
Economic activity is limited to providing services to military personnel and contractors located on the island. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.
Electricity - production [time series]
NA kWh
Geography
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 39 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
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005)
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 low coral islands, Peale, Wake, and Wilkes, built up on an underwater volcano; central lagoon is former crater, islands are part of the rim
Government
Country name [time series]
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Wake Island
Dependency status [time series]
unorganized, unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington, DC, by the Department of the Interior; activities in the atoll are currently 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
Introduction
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, as well as for emergency landings. All operations on the island were suspended and all personnel evacuated in August 2006 with the approach of super typhoon IOKE (category 5), which struck the island with sustained winds of 250 kph and a 6 m storm surge inflicting major damage. A US Air Force assessment and repair team returned to the island in September and restored limited function to the airfield and facilities. The future status of activities on the island will be determined upon completion of the survey and assessment.
Military
Military - note [time series]
defense is the responsibility of the US; the US Air Force is responsible for overall administration and operation of the island; the launch support facility is administered by the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA)
People
Population [time series]
no indigenous inhabitants note: since super typhoon IOKE, a small military contingent along with 75 contractor personnel have returned to the island to conduct clean-up and restore basic operations on the island (July 2007 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
claimed by Marshall Islands
Transportation
Airports [time series]
1 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2007)
Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]
none; two offshore anchorages for large ships
Transportation - note [time series]
there are no commercial or civilian flights to and from Wake Island, except in direct support of island missions; emergency landing is available