Johnston Atoll

   Introduction Johnston Atoll
   ---------------------------
                            Background: Both the US and the Kingdom of
                                        Hawaii annexed Johnston Atoll in
                                        1858, but it was the US that mined
                                        the guano deposits until the late
                                        1880s. The US Navy took over the
                                        atoll in 1934, and subsequently the
                                        US Air Force assumed control in
                                        1948. The site was used for high
                                        altitude nuclear tests in the 1950s
                                        and 1960s, and until late in 2000
                                        the atoll was maintained as a
                                        storage and disposal site for
                                        chemical weapons. Munitions
                                        destruction is now complete. Cleanup
                                        and closure of the facility is
                                        progressing, with completion
                                        anticipated in 2004.
  
   Geography Johnston Atoll
   ------------------------
                              Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific
                                        Ocean 717 NM (1328 km) southwest of
                                        Honolulu, Hawaii, about one-third of
                                        the way from Hawaii to the Marshall
                                        Islands
                Geographic coordinates: 16 45 N, 169 31 W
                        Map references: Oceania
                                  Area: total: 2.8 sq km
                                        water: 0 sq km
                                        land: 2.8 sq km
                    Area - comparative: about 4.7 times the size of The Mall
                                        in Washington, DC
                       Land boundaries: 0 km
                             Coastline: 34 km
                       Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
                                        territorial sea: 12 NM
                               Climate: tropical, but generally dry;
                                        consistent northeast trade winds
                                        with little seasonal temperature
                                        variation
                               Terrain: mostly flat
                    Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
                                        highest point: Summit Peak 5 m
                     Natural resources: guano deposits worked until
                                        depletion about 1890, 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: NA
          Environment - current issues: no natural fresh water resources
                      Geography - note: strategic location in the North
                                        Pacific Ocean; Johnston Island and
                                        Sand Island are natural islands,
                                        which have been expanded by coral
                                        dredging; North Island (Akau) and
                                        East Island (Hikina) are manmade
                                        islands formed from coral dredging;
                                        egg-shaped reef is 34 km in
                                        circumference; closed to the public;
                                        former US nuclear weapons test site;
                                        site of Johnston Atoll Chemical
                                        Agent Disposal System (JACADS); some
                                        lowgrowing vegetation
  
   People Johnston Atoll
   ---------------------
                            Population: no indigenous inhabitants
                                        note: in previous years, there was
                                        an average of 1,100 US military and
                                        civilian contractor personnel
                                        present; as of 1 September 2001,
                                        population had decreased
                                        significantly when US Army Chemical
                                        Activity Pacific (USACAP) departed
                                        (July 2002 est.)
                Population growth rate: NA%
  
   Government Johnston Atoll
   -------------------------
                          Country name: conventional long form: none
                                        conventional short form: Johnston
                                        Atoll
                     Dependency status: unincorporated territory of the US;
                                        administered from Honolulu, HI, by
                                        Pacific Air Forces, Hickam AFB, and
                                        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 Johnston Atoll
   ----------------------
                    Economy - overview: Economic activity is limited to
                                        providing services to US military
                                        personnel and contractors located on
                                        the island. All food and
                                        manufactured goods must be imported.
              Electricity - production: approximately 1million kWh weekly;
                                        note - there are six 25,000 kWh
                                        generators operated by the base
                                        operating support contractor (1999)
             Electricity - consumption: NA kWh
  
   Communications Johnston Atoll
   -----------------------------
                      Telephone system: general assessment: 13 outgoing and
                                        10 incoming commercial lines;
                                        adequate telecommunications
                                        domestic: 60-channel submarine cable
                                        (broken in January 2002), 22 DSN
                                        circuits by satellite, Autodin with
                                        standard remote terminal, digital
                                        telephone switch, Military
                                        Affiliated Radio System (MARS
                                        station), UHF/VHF air-ground radio,
                                        a link to the Pacific Consolidated
                                        Telecommunications Network (PCTN)
                                        satellite
                                        international: NA
              Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
         Television broadcast stations: commercial satellite television
                                        system, with 16 channels (1997)
     Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
  
   Transportation Johnston Atoll
   -----------------------------
                                       Waterways: none
                               Ports and harbors: Johnston Island
                                        Airports: 1 (2001)
                   Airports - with paved runways: total: 1
                                                  2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2001)
  
   Military Johnston Atoll
   -----------------------
                       Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the
                                        US
  
   Transnational Issues Johnston Atoll
   -----------------------------------
                                              Disputes - international: none