- Howland Island
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Introduction ::Howland IslandBackground:Discovered by the US early in the 19th century, the island was officially claimed by the US in 1857. Both US and British companies mined for guano until about 1890. Earhart Light is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast that was partially destroyed during World War II, but subsequently rebuilt; it is named in memory of the famed aviatrix Amelia EARHART. The island is administered by the US Department of the Interior as a National Wildlife Refuge.Geography ::Howland IslandLocation:Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and AustraliaGeographic coordinates:0 48 N, 176 38 WArea:total: 1.6 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 251land: 1.6 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmArea - comparative:about three times the size of The Mall in Washington, DCLand boundaries:0 kmCoastline:6.4 kmMaritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmClimate:equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sunTerrain:low-lying, nearly level, sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef; depressed central areaElevation extremes:lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 mhighest point: unnamed location 3 mNatural resources:guano (deposits worked until late 1800s), terrestrial and aquatic wildlifeLand use:arable land: 0%permanent crops: 0%other: 100% (2001)Irrigated land:0 sq kmNatural hazards:the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazardEnvironment - current issues:no natural fresh water resourcesGeography - 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 wildlifePeople and Society ::Howland IslandPopulation:uninhabitednote: 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; visited annually by US Fish and Wildlife ServiceGovernment ::Howland IslandCountry name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Howland IslandDependency 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 systemLegal system:the laws of the US, where applicable, applyFlag description:the flag of the US is usedTransportation ::Howland IslandPorts and terminals:none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one small boat landing area along the middle of the west coastTransportation - note:Earhart Light, a day beacon near the middle of the west coast, was partially destroyed during World War II but rebuilt during the 1960s; today it is crumbling and in poor repair; named in memory of famed aviatrix Amelia EARHARTMilitary ::Howland IslandMilitary - note:defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast GuardTransnational Issues ::Howland IslandDisputes - international:none"
The World Factbook. 2014.
