Kingman Reef

   Introduction Kingman Reef
   -------------------------
                            Background: 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 is no flora on the
                                        reef, which is frequently awash, but
                                        it does support an abundant and
                                        diverse marine fauna. In 2001, the
                                        waters surrounding the reef were
                                        designated a National Wildlife
                                        Refuge.
  
   Geography Kingman Reef
   ----------------------
                              Location: Oceania, reef in the North Pacific
                                        Ocean, about half way between Hawaii
                                        and American Samoa
                Geographic coordinates: 6 24 N, 162 24 W
                        Map references: Oceania
                                  Area: total: 1 sq km
                                        water: 0 sq km
                                        land: 1 sq km
                    Area - comparative: about 1.7 times the size of The Mall
                                        in Washington, DC
                       Land boundaries: 0 km
                             Coastline: 3 km
                       Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
                                        territorial sea: 12 NM
                               Climate: tropical, but moderated by
                                        prevailing winds
                               Terrain: low and nearly level
                    Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
                                        highest point: unnamed location 1 m
                     Natural resources: 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: wet or awash most of the time,
                                        maximum elevation of about 1 meter
                                        makes Kingman Reef a maritime hazard
          Environment - current issues: none
                      Geography - note: barren coral atoll with deep
                                        interior lagoon; closed to the
                                        public
  
   People Kingman Reef
   -------------------
                                    Population: uninhabited (July 2002 est.)
                        Population growth rate: NA
  
   Government Kingman Reef
   -----------------------
                          Country name: conventional long form: none
                                        conventional short form: Kingman
                                        Reef
                     Dependency status: 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-nautical-
                                        mile territorial sea limit
                          Legal system: the laws of the US, where
                                        applicable, apply
                      Flag description: the flag of the US is used
  
   Economy Kingman Reef
   --------------------
                                    Economy - overview: no economic activity
  
  
   Transportation Kingman Reef
   ---------------------------
                             Waterways: none
                     Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
                              Airports: lagoon was used as a halfway station
                                        between Hawaii and American Samoa by
                                        Pan American Airways for flying
                                        boats in 1937 and 1938
  
   Military Kingman Reef
   ---------------------
                       Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the
                                        US
  
   Transnational Issues Kingman Reef
   ---------------------------------
                                              Disputes - international: none