Jarvis Island

   Introduction Jarvis Island
   --------------------------
                            Background: First discovered by the British in
                                        1821, the uninhabited island was
                                        annexed by the US in 1858, but
                                        abandoned in 1879 after tons of
                                        guano had been removed. The UK
                                        annexed the island in 1889, but
                                        never carried out plans for further
                                        exploitation. The US occupied and
                                        reclaimed the island in 1935.
                                        Abandoned after World War II, the
                                        island is currently a National
                                        Wildlife Refuge administered by the
                                        US Department of the Interior; a day
                                        beacon is situated near the middle
                                        of the west coast.
  
   Geography Jarvis Island
   -----------------------
                              Location: Oceania, island in the South Pacific
                                        Ocean, about half way between Hawaii
                                        and the Cook Islands
                Geographic coordinates: 0 22 S, 160 03 W
                        Map references: Oceania
                                  Area: total: 4.5 sq km
                                        water: 0 sq km
                                        land: 4.5 sq km
                    Area - comparative: about eight times the size of The
                                        Mall in Washington, DC
                       Land boundaries: 0 km
                             Coastline: 8 km
                       Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
                                        territorial sea: 12 NM
                               Climate: tropical; scant rainfall, constant
                                        wind, burning sun
                               Terrain: sandy, coral island surrounded by a
                                        narrow fringing reef
                    Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
                                        highest point: unnamed location 7 m
                     Natural resources: guano (deposits worked until late
                                        1800s), 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 poses a maritime hazard
          Environment - current issues: no natural fresh water resources
                      Geography - note: sparse bunch grass, prostrate vines,
                                        and low-growing shrubs; primarily a
                                        nesting, roosting, and foraging
                                        habitat for seabirds, shorebirds,
                                        and marine wildlife
  
   People Jarvis Island
   --------------------
                            Population: uninhabited
                                        note: Millersville settlement on
                                        western side of island occasionally
                                        used as a weather station from 1935
                                        until World War II, when it was
                                        abandoned; reoccupied in 1957 during
                                        the International Geophysical Year
                                        by scientists who left in 1958;
                                        public entry is by special-use
                                        permit from US Fish and Wildlife
                                        Service only and generally
                                        restricted to scientists and
                                        educators; visited annually by US
                                        Fish and Wildlife Service (July 2002
                                        est.)
                Population growth rate: NA
  
   Government Jarvis Island
   ------------------------
                          Country name: conventional long form: none
                                        conventional short form: Jarvis
                                        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 Jarvis Island
   ---------------------
                                    Economy - overview: no economic activity
  
  
   Transportation Jarvis Island
   ----------------------------
                             Waterways: none
                     Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only; note
                                        - there is one small boat landing
                                        area in the middle of the west coast
                                        and another near the southwest
                                        corner of the island
                 Transportation - note: there is a day beacon near the
                                        middle of the west coast
  
   Military Jarvis Island
   ----------------------
                       Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the
                                        US; visited annually by the US Coast
                                        Guard
  
   Transnational Issues Jarvis Island
   ----------------------------------
                                              Disputes - international: none