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◆ ECONOMY(1 fields)
Economy - overview
The economy is based on providing support services for the national wildlife refuge activities located on the islands. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.
◆ GEOGRAPHY(17 fields)
Area
total: 6.2 sq km land: 6.2 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Eastern Island, Sand Island, and Spit Island
Area - comparative
about nine times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Climate
subtropical; moderated by prevailing easterly winds
Coastline
15 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 13 m
Environment - current issues
NA
Geographic coordinates
28 13 N, 177 22 W
Geography - note
a coral atoll managed as a national wildlife refuge and open to the public for wildlife-related recreation in the form of wildlife observation and photography, sport fishing, snorkeling, and scuba diving; the refuge is temporarily closed for reorganization at present (2004)
Irrigated land
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2001)
Location
Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-third of the way from Honolulu to Tokyo
Map references
Oceania
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Natural hazards
NA
Natural resources
wildlife, terrestrial and aquatic
Terrain
low, nearly level
◆ GOVERNMENT(4 fields)
Country name
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Midway Islands
Dependency status
unincorporated territory of the US; formerly administered from Washington, DC, by the US Navy, under Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific Division; this facility has been operationally closed since 10 September 1993; on 31 October 1996, through a presidential executive order, the jurisdiction and control of the atoll was transferred to the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system
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 took formal possession of the islands in 1867. The laying of the trans-Pacific cable, which passed through the islands, brought the first residents in 1903. Between 1935 and 1947, Midway was used as a refueling stop for trans-Pacific flights. The US naval victory over a Japanese fleet off Midway in 1942 was one of the turning points of World War II. The islands continued to serve as a naval station until closed in 1993. Today the islands are a national wildlife refuge. From 1996 to 2001 the refuge was open to the public; it is now temporarily closed.
◆ MILITARY(1 fields)
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of the US
◆ PEOPLE(1 fields)
Population
no indigenous inhabitants; approximately 40 people make up the staff of US Fish and Wildlife Service and their services contractor living at the atoll (July 2004 est.)
◆ TRANSNATIONAL ISSUES(1 fields)
Disputes - international
none
◆ TRANSPORTATION(6 fields)
Airports
3 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Highways
total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors
Sand Island
Transportation - note
airfield serves as an emergency landing site for commercial aircraft crossing the Pacific Ocean