Palmyra Atoll

   Introduction Palmyra Atoll
   --------------------------
                            Background: The Kingdom of Hawaii claimed the
                                        atoll in 1862, and the US included
                                        it among the Hawaiian Islands when
                                        it annexed the archipelago in 1898.
                                        The Hawaii Statehood Act of 1959 did
                                        not include Palmyra Atoll, which is
                                        now privately owned by the Nature
                                        Conservancy. This organization is
                                        managing the atoll as a nature
                                        preserve. The lagoons and
                                        surrounding waters within the 12
                                        nautical mile US territorial seas
                                        were transferred to the US Fish and
                                        Wildlife Service and were designated
                                        a National Wildlife Refuge in
                                        January 2001.
  
   Geography Palmyra Atoll
   -----------------------
                              Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific
                                        Ocean, about half way between Hawaii
                                        and American Samoa
                Geographic coordinates: 5 52 N, 162 06 W
                        Map references: Oceania
                                  Area: total: 11.9 sq km
                                        water: 0 sq km
                                        land: 11.9 sq km
                    Area - comparative: about 20 times the size of The Mall
                                        in Washington, DC
                       Land boundaries: 0 km
                             Coastline: 14.5 km
                       Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
                                        territorial sea: 12 NM
                               Climate: equatorial, hot, and very rainy
                               Terrain: very low
                    Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
                                        highest point: unnamed location 2 m
                     Natural resources: terrestrial and aquatic wildlife
                              Land use: arable land: 0%
                                        permanent crops: 0%
                                        other: 100% (forests and woodlands)
                                        (1998 est.)
                        Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1998 est.)
                       Natural hazards: NA
          Environment - current issues: NA
                      Geography - note: about 50 islets covered with dense
                                        vegetation, coconut trees, and
                                        balsa-like trees up to 30 meters
                                        tall
  
   People Palmyra Atoll
   --------------------
                            Population: no indigenous inhabitants; 4 to 20
                                        Nature Conservancy staff, US Fish
                                        and Wildlife staff (July 2002 est.)
                Population growth rate: NA
  
   Government Palmyra Atoll
   ------------------------
                          Country name: conventional long form: none
                                        conventional short form: Palmyra
                                        Atoll
                     Dependency status: incorporated territory of the US;
                                        privately owned, but administered
                                        from Washington, DC, by the Fish and
                                        Wildlife Service of the US
                                        Department of the Interior
                          Legal system: the laws of the US, where
                                        applicable, apply
                      Flag description: the flag of the US is used
  
   Economy Palmyra Atoll
   ---------------------
                                    Economy - overview: no economic activity
  
  
   Transportation Palmyra Atoll
   ----------------------------
                               Highways: much of the road and many causeways
                                         built during World War II are
                                         unserviceable and overgrown (2001)
                              Waterways: none
                      Ports and harbors: West Lagoon
                               Airports: 1 (2001)
        Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1
                                         1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2001)
  
   Military Palmyra Atoll
   ----------------------
                       Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the
                                        US
  
   Transnational Issues Palmyra Atoll
   ----------------------------------
                                              Disputes - international: none