Baker Island

   Introduction Baker Island
   -------------------------
                            Background: 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.
  
   Geography Baker Island
   ----------------------
                              Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific
                                        Ocean, about half way between Hawaii
                                        and Australia
                Geographic coordinates: 0 13 N, 176 31 W
                        Map references: Oceania
                                  Area: total: 1.4 sq km
                                        water: 0 sq km
                                        land: 1.4 sq km
                    Area - comparative: about 2.5 times the size of The Mall
                                        in Washington, DC
                       Land boundaries: 0 km
                             Coastline: 4.8 km
                       Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
                                        territorial sea: 12 NM
                               Climate: equatorial; scant rainfall, constant
                                        wind, burning sun
                               Terrain: low, nearly level coral island
                                        surrounded by a narrow fringing reef
                    Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
                                        highest point: unnamed location 8 m
                     Natural resources: guano (deposits worked until 1891),
                                        terrestrial and aquatic wildlife
                              Land use: arable land: 0%
                                        permanent crops: 0%
                                        other: 100% (1998 est.)
                        Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1998 est.)
                       Natural hazards: the narrow fringing reef surrounding
                                        the island can be a maritime hazard
          Environment - current issues: no natural fresh water resources
                      Geography - note: 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
  
   People Baker Island
   -------------------
                            Population: 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 (July 2002
                                        est.)
                Population growth rate: NA
  
   Government Baker Island
   -----------------------
                          Country name: conventional long form: none
                                        conventional short form: Baker
                                        Island
                     Dependency status: 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
                          Legal system: the laws of the US, where
                                        applicable, apply
                      Flag description: the flag of the US is used
  
   Economy Baker Island
   --------------------
                                    Economy - overview: no economic activity
  
  
   Transportation Baker Island
   ---------------------------
                             Waterways: none
                     Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only; note
                                        - there is one small boat landing
                                        area along the middle of the west
                                        coast
                              Airports: 1 abandoned World War II runway of
                                        1,665 m, completely covered with
                                        vegetation and unusable
                 Transportation - note: there is a day beacon near the
                                        middle of the west coast
  
   Military Baker Island
   ---------------------
                       Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the
                                        US; visited annually by the US Coast
                                        Guard
  
   Transnational Issues Baker Island
   ---------------------------------
                                              Disputes - international: none