Baker Island (2008) | Ashmore and Cartier Islands (2001) | |
Airports | one abandoned World War II runway of 1,665 m covered with vegetation and unusable (2006) | - |
Area | total: 1.4 sq km
land: 1.4 sq km water: 0 sq km |
total:
5 sq km land: 5 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) and Cartier Island |
Area - comparative | about 2.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC | about eight 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. | These uninhabited islands came under Australian authority in 1931; formal administration began two years later. Ashmore Reef supports a rich and diverse avian and marine habitat; in 1983 it became a National Nature Reserve. Recent geological explorations have indicated promising petroleum formations. |
Climate | equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun | tropical |
Coastline | 4.8 km | 74.1 km |
Country name | conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Baker Island |
conventional long form:
Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands conventional short form: Ashmore and Cartier 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 | territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Department of the Environment, Sport, and Territories |
Diplomatic representation from the US | - | none (territory of Australia) |
Diplomatic representation in the US | - | none (territory of Australia) |
Disputes - international | none | none |
Economy - overview | no economic activity | no economic activity |
Elevation extremes | lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 8 m |
lowest point:
Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 3 m |
Environment - current issues | no natural fresh water resources | NA |
Flag description | the flag of the US is used | the flag of Australia is used |
Geographic coordinates | 0 13 N, 176 28 W | 12 14 S, 123 05 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 | Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983 |
Irrigated land | 0 sq km | 0 sq km (1993) |
Land boundaries | 0 km | 0 km |
Land use | arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005) |
arable land:
0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (all grass and sand) |
Legal system | the laws of the US, where applicable, apply | the laws of the Northern Territory of Australia, where applicable, apply |
Location | Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and Australia | Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean, northwest of Australia |
Map references | Oceania | Southeast Asia |
Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
contiguous zone:
12 NM continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 3 NM |
Military - note | defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast Guard | defense is the responsibility of Australia; periodic visits by the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force |
Natural hazards | the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard | surrounded by shoals and reefs that can pose maritime hazards |
Natural resources | guano (deposits worked until 1891), terrestrial and aquatic wildlife | fish |
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 |
no indigenous inhabitants
note: there are only seasonal caretakers (July 2001 est.) |
Ports and harbors | - | none; offshore anchorage only |
Terrain | low, nearly level coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef | low with sand and coral |
Transportation - note | there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast | - |
Waterways | - | none |