Wake Island (2002) (compare) | |
Wake Island (2003) (compare) | |
Wake Island (2004) (compare) | |
Wake Island (2005) (compare) | |
Wake Island (2006) (compare) | |
Wake Island (2007) (compare) | |
Wake Island (2008) (compare) |
Airports | 1 (2000 est.) |
Airports - with paved runways | total:
1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2000 est.) |
Area | total:
6.5 sq km land: 6.5 sq km water: 0 sq km |
Area - comparative | about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC |
Background | The US annexed Wake Island in 1899 for a cable station. An important air and naval base was constructed in 1940-41. In December 1941 the island was captured by the Japanese and held until the end of World War II. In subsequent years, Wake was developed as a stopover and refueling site for military and commercial aircraft transiting the Pacific. Since 1974, the island's airstrip has been used by the US military and some commercial cargo planes, as well as for emergency landings. There are over 700 landings a year on the island. |
Climate | tropical |
Coastline | 19.3 km |
Country name | conventional long form:
none conventional short form: Wake Island |
Dependency status | unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington, DC, by the Department of the Interior; activities on the island are managed by the US Army under a US Air Force permit |
Disputes - international | claimed by Marshall Islands |
Economy - overview | Economic activity is limited to providing services to contractors located on the island. All food and manufactured goods must be imported. |
Electricity - production | NA kWh |
Elevation extremes | lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 6 m |
Environment - current issues | NA |
Flag description | the flag of the US is used |
Geographic coordinates | 19 17 N, 166 36 E |
Geography - note | strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean; emergency landing location for transpacific flights |
Irrigated land | 0 sq km (1998) |
Land boundaries | 0 km |
Land use | arable land:
0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% |
Legal system | the laws of the US, where applicable, apply |
Location | Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to the Northern Mariana Islands |
Map references | Oceania |
Maritime claims | exclusive economic zone:
200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM |
Military - note | defense is the responsibility of the US |
Natural hazards | occasional typhoons |
Natural resources | none |
Population | no indigenous inhabitants
note: US military personnel have left the island, but civilian personnel remain; as of December 2000, one US Army civilian and 123 civilian contractor personnel were present (January 2001 est.) |
Ports and harbors | none; two offshore anchorages for large ships |
Radio broadcast stations | AM 0, FM NA, shortwave NA
note: Armed Forces Radio/Television Service (AFRTS) radio service provided by satellite (1998) |
Telephone system | general assessment:
satellite communications; 1 DSN circuit off the Overseas Telephone System (OTS) domestic: NA international: NA |
Television broadcast stations | 0 (1997) |
Terrain | atoll of three coral islands built up on an underwater volcano; central lagoon is former crater, islands are part of the rim |
Waterways | none |