Baker Island (2003) | Akrotiri (2004) | |
Airports | 1 abandoned World War II runway of 1,665 m, completely covered with vegetation and unusable (2002) | - |
Area | total: 1.4 sq km
land: 1.4 sq km water: 0 sq km |
total: 123 sq km
note: includes a salt lake and wetlands |
Area - comparative | about 2.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC | about 0.7 times the size of 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. | By terms of the 1960 Treaty of Establishment that created the independent Republic of Cyprus, the UK retained full sovreignty and jurisdiction over two areas of almost 254 square kilometers in total: Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The southernmost and smallest of these is the Akrotiri Sovereign Base Area, which is also referred to as the Western Sovereign Base Area. |
Capital | - | Episkopi; also serves as capital of Dhekelia |
Climate | equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun | temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters |
Coastline | 4.8 km | - |
Country name | conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Baker Island |
conventional long form: Akrotiri Sovereign Base Area
conventional short form: Akrotiri |
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 | overseas territory of UK; administered by an administrator who is also the Commander, British Forces Cyprus |
Diplomatic representation from the US | - | none (overseas territory of the UK) |
Diplomatic representation in the US | - | none (overseas territory of the UK) |
Disputes - international | none | - |
Economy - overview | no economic activity | Economic activity is limited to providing services to the military and their families located in Akrotiri. All food and manufactured goods must be imported. |
Elevation extremes | lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 8 m |
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Environment - current issues | no natural fresh water resources | shooting around the salt lake; note - breeding place for loggerhead and green turtles; only remaining colony of griffon vultures is on the base |
Executive branch | - | chief of state: Queen Elizabeth II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Administrator Maj. Gen. Peter Tomas Clayton PEARSON (since 9 May 2003) note - reports to the British Ministry of Defence elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the administrator is appointed by the monarch |
Flag description | the flag of the US is used | the flag of the UK is used |
Geographic coordinates | 0 13 N, 176 31 W | 34 37 N, 32 58 E |
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 | British extraterritorial rights also extended to several small off-post sites scattered across Cyprus |
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 | the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply |
Location | Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and Australia | peninsula on the southwest coast of Cyprus |
Map references | Oceania | Middle East |
Maritime claims | exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
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Military - note | defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast Guard | Akrotiri has a full RAF base, Headquarters for British Forces on Cyprus, and Episkopi Support Unit |
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 2003 est.) |
no indigenous inhabitants
note: approximately 1,300 military personnel are on the base; note - there are another 5,000 British citizens who are families of military personnel or civilian staff on both Akrotiri and Dhekelia; Cyprus citizens work on the base, but do not live there |
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 | - |