Baker Island Facts

Facts & Information For Baker Island

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Introduction

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

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 - as described in UNCLOS 1982 (see Notes and Definitions):	territorial sea: 12 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 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

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 (2004 est.)

Government

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

Economy - overview:

no economic activity

Transportation

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 (2003 est.)
Transportation - note:	there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast

Military

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast Guard

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international:

none

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