Tromelin Island (2005) | Baker Island (2006) | |
Airports | 1 (2004 est.) | one abandoned World War II runway of 1,665 m covered with vegetation and unusable (2006) |
Airports - with unpaved runways | total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
- |
Area | total: 1 sq km
land: 1 sq km water: 0 sq km |
total: 1.4 sq km
land: 1.4 sq km water: 0 sq km |
Area - comparative | about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC | about 2.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC |
Background | First explored by the French in 1776, the island came under the jurisdiction of Reunion in 1814. At present, it serves as a sea turtle sanctuary and is the site of an important meteorological 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 | 3.7 km | 4.8 km |
Country name | conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Tromelin Island local long form: none local short form: Ile Tromelin |
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 Mauritius | none |
Economy - overview | no economic activity | no economic activity |
Elevation extremes | lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 7 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 | 15 52 S, 54 25 E | 0 13 N, 176 28 W |
Geography - note | climatologically important location for forecasting cyclones; wildlife sanctuary (seabirds, tortoises) | 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 (1998 est.) | 0 sq km |
Land boundaries | 0 km | 0 km |
Land use | arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (grasses; scattered bushes) (2001) |
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005) |
Legal system | the laws of France, where applicable, apply | the laws of the US, where applicable, apply |
Location | Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar | Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and Australia |
Map references | Africa | Oceania |
Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation |
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 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 | fish | guano (deposits worked until 1891), terrestrial and aquatic wildlife |
Population | uninhabited, except for visits by scientists (July 2005 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 (2005 est.) |
Ports and harbors | none; offshore anchorage only | - |
Terrain | low, flat, and sandy; likely volcanic | 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 |