SELECT EDITION
CATEGORIES
◆ ECONOMY(1 fields)
Economy - overview
no economic activity
◆ GEOGRAPHY(17 fields)
Area
total: 1 sq km land: 1 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative
about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Climate
tropical, but moderated by prevailing winds
Coastline
3 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 1 m
Environment - current issues
none
Geographic coordinates
6 24 N, 162 24 W
Geography - note
barren coral atoll with deep interior lagoon; closed to the public
Irrigated land
0 sq km (1996)
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100%
Location
Oceania, reef in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to American Samoa
Map references
Oceania
Maritime claims
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Natural hazards
wet or awash most of the time, maximum elevation of about 1 meter makes Kingman Reef a maritime hazard
Natural resources
terrestrial and aquatic wildlife
Terrain
low and nearly level
◆ GOVERNMENT(4 fields)
Country name
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Kingman Reef
Dependency status
unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington, DC, by the US Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Interior note: on 1 September 2000, the Department of the Interior accepted restoration of its administrative jurisdiction over Kingman Reef from the Department of the Navy; Executive Order 3223 signed 18 January 2001 established Kingman Reef National Wildlife Refuge to be administered by the Director, US Fish and Wildlife Service; this refuge is managed to protect the terrestrial and aquatic wildlife of Kingman Reef out to the twelve nautical mile territorial sea limit
Flag description
the flag of the US is used
Legal system
the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
◆ INTRODUCTION(1 fields)
Background
The US annexed the reef in 1922. Its sheltered lagoon served as a way station for flying boats on Hawaii-to-American Samoa flights during the late 1930s. There is no flora on the reef, which is frequently awash, but it does support an abundant and diverse marine fauna. In 2001, the waters surrounding the reef were designated a National Wildlife Refuge.
◆ MILITARY(1 fields)
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of the US
◆ PEOPLE(1 fields)
Population
uninhabited (July 2001 est.)
◆ TRANSNATIONAL ISSUES(1 fields)
Disputes - international
none
◆ TRANSPORTATION(3 fields)
Airports
lagoon was used as a halfway station between Hawaii and American Samoa by Pan American Airways for flying boats in 1937 and 1938 (2000 est.)
Ports and harbors
none; offshore anchorage only
Waterways
none