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Kingman Reef

2020 Edition — territory

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
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Geography
Area [time series]
total: 1 sq km | land: 1 sq km | water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative [time series]
about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Climate [time series]
tropical; moderated by prevailing winds
Coastline [time series]
3 km
Environment - current issues [time series]
illegal foreign fishing; marine debris washing up on reef can entangle and kill wildlife
Geographic coordinates [time series]
6 24 N, 162 22 W
Geography - note [time series]
barren coral atoll with deep interior lagoon; closed to the public
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Location [time series]
Oceania, reef in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and American Samoa
Map references [time series]
Oceania
Maritime claims [time series]
territorial sea: 12 nm | exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Natural hazards [time series]
wet or awash most of the time, maximum elevation of about 1 meter makes Kingman Reef a maritime hazard
Natural resources [time series]
terrestrial and aquatic wildlife
Terrain [time series]
low and nearly level
Government
Country name [time series]
conventional long form: none | conventional short form: Kingman Reef | etymology: although discovered in 1798, the reef is named after Captain W. E. KINGMAN who described it in 1853
Dependency status [time series]
unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington, DC, by the US Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Interior | note: on 1 September 2000, the Department of the Interior accepted restoration of its administrative jurisdiction over Kingman Reef from the Department of the Navy; Executive Order 3223 signed 18 January 2001 established Kingman Reef National Wildlife Refuge to be administered by the Director, US Fish and Wildlife Service; this refuge is managed to protect the terrestrial and aquatic wildlife of Kingman Reef out to the 12 nm territorial sea limit
Flag (Flag description) [time series]
the flag of the US is used
Legal system [time series]
the laws of the US apply where applicable
Introduction
Background [time series]
The US annexed the reef in 1922. Its sheltered lagoon served as a way station for flying boats on Hawaii-to-American Samoa flights during the late 1930s. There are no terrestrial plants on the reef, which is frequently awash, but it does support abundant and diverse marine fauna and flora. In 2001, the waters surrounding the reef out to 12 nm were designated a US National Wildlife Refuge.
Military and Security
Military - note [time series]
defense is the responsibility of the US
People and Society
Population [time series]
uninhabited
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
none
Transportation
Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]
none; offshore anchorage only