From Free media library
| Introduction
| Baker Island
|
| 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:
| 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% (2001)
|
| 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
|
| 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.)
|
| 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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| Transportation
| Baker Island
|
| 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 - note:
| defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast Guard
|
This page was last updated on 1 January 2003
This is a snapshot of the CIA World Fact Book as it existed on 26 March 2005
