countries/FQ

Baker Island

territoryFIPS: FQ|Edition: 1996|26 fields

ECONOMY(1 fields)

Economic overview

no economic activity

GEOGRAPHY(15 fields)

Area

total area: 1.4 sq km land area: 1.4 sq km comparative area: about 2.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Climate

equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun

Coastline

4.8 km

Environment

current issues: no natural fresh water resources natural hazards: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard international agreements: NA

Geographic coordinates

0 13 N, 176 31 W

Geographic 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

International disputes

none

Irrigated land

0 sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100%

Location

Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural resources

guano (deposits worked until 1891)

Terrain

low, nearly level coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 8 m

GOVERNMENT(5 fields)

Capital

none; administered from Washington, DC

Data code

FQ

Flag

the flag of the US is used

Name of country

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Baker Island

Type of government

unincorporated territory of the US administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system

PEOPLE(1 fields)

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 only and generally restricted to scientists and educators; a cemetery and cemetery ruins are located near the middle of the west coast

TRANSPORTATION(4 fields)

Airports

1 abandoned World War II runway of 1,665 m

Defense note

defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast Guard

Ports

none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one boat landing area along the middle of the west coast

Transportation note

there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast Defense