Howland Island

Economic overview

no economic activity

Area

total area: 1.6 sq km land area: 1.6 sq km comparative area: about three times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Climate

equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun

Coastline

6.4 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 48 N, 176 38 W

Geographic note

almost totally covered with grasses, prostrate vines, and low-growing shrubs; small area of trees in the center; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife; feral cats

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: 5% other: 95%

Location

Oceania, island 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 late 1800s)

Terrain

low-lying, nearly level, sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef; depressed central area lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 3 m

Capital

none; administered from Washington, DC

Data code

HQ

Flag

the flag of the US is used

Name of country

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Howland 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

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

Airports

airstrip constructed in 1937 for scheduled refueling stop on the round-the-world flight of Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan - they left Lae, New Guinea, for Howland Island, but were never seen again; the airstrip is no longer serviceable

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

Earhart Light is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast that was partially destroyed during World War II, but has since been rebuilt; named in memory of famed aviatrix Amelia Earhart Defense