Baker Island (2004) | Paracel Islands (2007) | |
Airports | 1 abandoned World War II runway of 1,665 m, completely covered with vegetation and unusable (2003 est.) | 1 (2007) |
Airports - with paved runways | - | total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007) |
Area | total: 1.4 sq km
land: 1.4 sq km water: 0 sq km |
total: NA sq km
land: NA sq km water: 0 sq km |
Area - comparative | about 2.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC | NA |
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. | The Paracel Islands are surrounded by productive fishing grounds and by potential oil and gas reserves. In 1932, French Indochina annexed the islands and set up a weather station on Pattle Island; maintenance was continued by its successor, Vietnam. China has occupied the Paracel Islands since 1974, when its troops seized a South Vietnamese garrison occupying the western islands. The islands are claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam. |
Climate | equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun | tropical |
Coastline | 4.8 km | 518 km |
Country name | conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Baker Island |
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Paracel Islands |
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 | occupied by China, also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam |
Economy - overview | no economic activity | China announced plans in 1997 to open the islands for tourism. |
Elevation extremes | lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 8 m |
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m |
Environment - current issues | no natural fresh water resources | NA |
Flag description | the flag of the US is used | - |
Geographic coordinates | 0 13 N, 176 31 W | 16 30 N, 112 00 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 | composed of 130 small coral islands and reefs divided into the northeast Amphitrite Group and the western Crescent Group |
Irrigated land | 0 sq km (1998 est.) | 0 sq km |
Land boundaries | 0 km | 0 km |
Land use | arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2001) |
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005) |
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 | Southeastern Asia, group of small islands and reefs in the South China Sea, about one-third of the way from central Vietnam to the northern Philippines |
Map references | Oceania | Southeast Asia |
Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
NA |
Military - note | defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast Guard | occupied by China |
Natural hazards | the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard | typhoons |
Natural resources | guano (deposits worked until 1891), terrestrial and aquatic wildlife | none |
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 (2004 est.) |
no indigenous inhabitants
note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons |
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 | mostly low and flat |
Transportation - note | there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast | - |