Navassa Island (2008) | Navassa Island (2007) | |
Area | total: 5.4 sq km
land: 5.4 sq km water: 0 sq km |
total: 5.4 sq km
land: 5.4 sq km water: 0 sq km |
Area - comparative | about nine times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC | about nine times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC |
Background | This uninhabited island was claimed by the US in 1857 for its guano. Mining took place between 1865 and 1898. The lighthouse, built in 1917, was shut down in 1996 and administration of Navassa Island transferred from the Coast Guard to the Department of the Interior. A 1998 scientific expedition to the island described it as a unique preserve of Caribbean biodiversity; the following year it became a National Wildlife Refuge and annual scientific expeditions have continued. | This uninhabited island was claimed by the US in 1857 for its guano. Mining took place between 1865 and 1898. The lighthouse, built in 1917, was shut down in 1996 and administration of Navassa Island transferred from the Coast Guard to the Department of the Interior. A 1998 scientific expedition to the island described it as a unique preserve of Caribbean biodiversity; the following year it became a National Wildlife Refuge and annual scientific expeditions have continued. |
Climate | marine, tropical | marine, tropical |
Coastline | 8 km | 8 km |
Country name | conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Navassa Island |
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Navassa Island |
Dependency status | unorganized, unincorporated territory of the US; administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service, US Department of the Interior, from the Caribbean Islands National Wildlife Refuge in Boqueron, Puerto Rico; in September 1996, the Coast Guard ceased operations and maintenance of Navassa Island Light, a 46-meter-tall lighthouse on the southern side of the island; there has also been a private claim advanced against the island | unorganized, unincorporated territory of the US; administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service, US Department of the Interior, from the Caribbean Islands National Wildlife Refuge in Boqueron, Puerto Rico; in September 1996, the Coast Guard ceased operations and maintenance of Navassa Island Light, a 46-meter-tall lighthouse on the southern side of the island; there has also been a private claim advanced against the island |
Diplomatic representation from the US | none (territory of the US) | none (territory of the US) |
Disputes - international | claimed by Haiti, source of subsistence fishing | claimed by Haiti, source of subsistence fishing |
Economy - overview | Subsistence fishing and commercial trawling occur within refuge waters. | Subsistence fishing and commercial trawling occur within refuge waters. |
Elevation extremes | lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on southwest side 77 m |
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on southwest side 77 m |
Environment - current issues | NA | NA |
Flag description | the flag of the US is used | the flag of the US is used |
Geographic coordinates | 18 25 N, 75 02 W | 18 25 N, 75 02 W |
Geography - note | strategic location 160 km south of the US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; mostly exposed rock with numerous solution holes but with enough grassland to support goat herds; dense stands of fig trees, scattered cactus | strategic location 160 km south of the US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; mostly exposed rock with numerous solution holes but with enough grassland to support goat herds; dense stands of fig trees, scattered cactus |
Land boundaries | 0 km | 0 km |
Land use | arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005) |
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005) |
Legal system | the laws of the US, where applicable, apply | the laws of the US, where applicable, apply |
Location | Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, 35 miles west of Tiburon Peninsula of Haiti | Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, 35 miles west of Tiburon Peninsula of Haiti |
Map references | Central America and the Caribbean | Central America and the Caribbean |
Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
Military - note | defense is the responsibility of the US | defense is the responsibility of the US |
Natural hazards | hurricanes | hurricanes |
Natural resources | guano | guano |
Population | uninhabited
note: transient Haitian fishermen and others camp on the island |
uninhabited
note: transient Haitian fishermen and others camp on the island |
Terrain | raised coral and limestone plateau, flat to undulating; ringed by vertical white cliffs (9 to 15 m high) | raised coral and limestone plateau, flat to undulating; ringed by vertical white cliffs (9 to 15 m high) |