Europa Island (2006) | Baker Island (2001) | |
Airports | 1 (2006) | 1 abandoned World War II runway of 1,665 m, completely covered with vegetation and unusable (2000 est.) |
Airports - with unpaved runways | total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006) |
- |
Area | total: 28 sq km
land: 28 sq km water: 0 sq km |
total:
1.4 sq km land: 1.4 sq km water: 0 sq km |
Area - comparative | about 0.16 times the size of Washington, DC | about 2.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC |
Background | A French possession since 1897, the island is heavily wooded; it is the site of a small military garrison that staffs a weather station. | 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 | tropical | equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun |
Coastline | 22.2 km | 4.8 km |
Country name | conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Europa Island local long form: none local short form: Ile Europa |
conventional long form:
none conventional short form: Baker Island |
Dependency status | possession of France; administered by the Administrateur Superieur of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands | 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 | claimed by Madagascar | none |
Economy - overview | no economic activity | no economic activity |
Elevation extremes | lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 24 m |
lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 8 m |
Environment - current issues | NA | no natural fresh water resources |
Flag description | the flag of France is used | the flag of the US is used |
Geographic coordinates | 22 20 S, 40 22 E | 0 13 N, 176 31 W |
Geography - note | wildlife sanctuary | 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 | 0 sq km (1993) |
Land boundaries | 0 km | 0 km |
Land use | arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (mangrove forests and woodlands) (2005) |
arable land:
0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% |
Legal system | the laws of France, where applicable, apply | the laws of the US, where applicable, apply |
Location | Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about half way between southern Madagascar and southern Mozambique | Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia |
Map references | Africa | Oceania |
Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
exclusive economic zone:
200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM |
Military - note | defense is the responsibility of France | defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast Guard |
Natural hazards | NA | the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard |
Natural resources | NEGL | guano (deposits worked until 1891), terrestrial and aquatic wildlife |
Population | no indigenous inhabitants
note: there is a small French military garrison and a few meteorologists; visited by scientists (July 2006 est.) |
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 2001 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 and flat | low, nearly level coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef |
Waterways | - | none |