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Baker
Island |
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Click
to enlarge |
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Maps Appendixes
| 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. |
| 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: |
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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
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| 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
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| 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 (July 2003 est.)
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| 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
- overview: |
no economic activity
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