![]() | |
| Airports | 1 abandoned World War II runway of 1,665 m, completely covered with vegetation and unusable |
| Area | total: 1.4 sq km
land: 1.4 sq km water: 0 sq km |
| Area - comparative | about 2.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC |
| 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. |
| Climate | equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun |
| Coastline | 4.8 km |
| 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 |
| Disputes - international | none |
| Economy - overview | no economic activity |
| Elevation extremes | lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 8 m |
| Environment - current issues | no natural fresh water resources |
| Flag description | the flag of the US is used |
| Geographic coordinates | 0 13 N, 176 31 W |
| 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 |
| Irrigated land | 0 sq km (1998 est.) |
| Land boundaries | 0 km |
| Land use | arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (1998 est.) |
| Legal system | the laws of the US, where applicable, apply |
| Location | Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and Australia |
| Map references | Oceania |
| Maritime claims | exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
| Military - note | defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast Guard |
| Natural hazards | the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard |
| Natural resources | guano (deposits worked until 1891), terrestrial and aquatic 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 (July 2002 est.) |
| Ports and harbors | none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one small boat landing area along the middle of the west coast |
| Terrain | low, nearly level coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef |
| Transportation - note | there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast |
| Waterways | none |