SELECT EDITION
CATEGORIES
◆ COMMUNICATIONS(2 fields)
Broadcast media
American Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) provides satellite radio/TV broadcasts (2009)
Telephone system
general assessment: satellite communications; 2 Defense Switched Network circuits off the Overseas Telephone System (OTS); located in the Hawaii area code - 808
◆ ECONOMY(1 fields)
Economy - overview
Economic activity is limited to providing services to military personnel and contractors located on the island. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.
◆ GEOGRAPHY(17 fields)
Area
total: 6.5 sq km | land: 6.5 sq km | water: 0 sq km | country comparison to the world: 245
Area - comparative
about 11 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC
Climate
tropical
Coastline
19.3 km
Elevation
mean elevation: NA | elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m | highest point: unnamed location 6 m
Environment - current issues
NA
Geographic coordinates
19 17 N, 166 39 E
Geography - note
strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean; emergency landing location for transpacific flights
Irrigated land
0 sq km (2012)
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
agricultural land: 0% | arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 0% | forest: 0% | other: 100% (2011 est.)
Location
Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to the Northern Mariana Islands
Map references
Oceania
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm | exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Natural hazards
occasional typhoons
Natural resources
none
Terrain
atoll of three low coral islands, Peale, Wake, and Wilkes, built up on an underwater volcano; central lagoon is former crater, islands are part of the rim
◆ GOVERNMENT(5 fields)
Citizenship
see United States
Country name
conventional long form: none | conventional short form: Wake Island | etymology: although first discovered by British Captain William WAKE in 1792, the island is named after British Captain Samuel WAKE who rediscovered the island in 1796
Dependency status
unorganized, unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington, DC, by the Department of the Interior; activities in the atoll are currently conducted by the US Air Force
Flag description
the flag of the US is used
Legal system
US common law
◆ INTRODUCTION(1 fields)
Background
The US annexed Wake Island in 1899 for a cable station. An important air and naval base was constructed in 1940-41. In December 1941, the island was captured by the Japanese and held until the end of World War II. In subsequent years, Wake became a stopover and refueling site for military and commercial aircraft transiting the Pacific. Since 1974, the island's airstrip has been used by the US military, as well as for emergency landings. Operations on the island were temporarily suspended and all personnel evacuated in 2006 with the approach of super typhoon IOKE (category 5), but resultant damage was comparatively minor. A US Air Force repair team restored full capability to the airfield and facilities, and the island remains a vital strategic link in the Pacific region.
◆ MILITARY AND SECURITY(1 fields)
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of the US; the US Air Force is responsible for overall administration and operation of the island facilities; the launch support facility is administered by the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA)
◆ PEOPLE AND SOCIETY(1 fields)
Population
no indigenous inhabitants | note: approximately 150 military personnel and civilian contractors maintain and operate the airfield and communications facilities (2009)
◆ TRANSNATIONAL ISSUES(1 fields)
Disputes - international
claimed by Marshall Islands
◆ TRANSPORTATION(4 fields)
Airports
1 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 211
Airports - with paved runways
total: 1 | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2013)
Ports and terminals
none; two offshore anchorages for large ships
Transportation - note
there are no commercial or civilian flights to and from Wake Island, except in direct support of island missions; emergency landing is available