CATEGORIES
◆ ECONOMY(1 fields)
Economy - overview
no economic activity
◆ GEOGRAPHY(17 fields)
Area
total: 1.4 sq km land: 1.4 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative
about 2.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Climate
equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
Coastline
4.8 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 8 m
Environment - current issues
no natural fresh water resources
Geographic coordinates
0 13 N, 176 31 W
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
Irrigated land
0 sq km (1993)
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests 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 hazards
the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard
Natural resources
guano (deposits worked until 1891)
Terrain
low, nearly level coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef
◆ GOVERNMENT(5 fields)
Country name
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Baker Island
Data code
FQ
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
Flag description
the flag of the US is used
Legal system
NA
◆ MILITARY(1 fields)
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast Guard
◆ 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 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 2000 est.)
◆ TRANSNATIONAL ISSUES(1 fields)
Disputes - international
none [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]
◆ TRANSPORTATION(3 fields)
Airports
1 abandoned World War II runway of 1,665 m, completely covered with vegetation and unusable
Ports and harbors
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