Baker Island

1. Baker Island Introduction

Background:
  The US took possession of the island in 1857, and its guano deposits were
  mined by US and British companies during the second half of the 19th
  century. In 1935, a short-lived attempt at colonization was begun on this
  island - as well as on nearby Howland Island - but was disrupted by World
  War II and thereafter abandoned. Presently the island is a National
  Wildlife Refuge run by the US Department of the Interior; a day beacon is
  situated near the middle of the west coast.

2. Baker Island Geography

Location:
  Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii
  and Australia

Geographic coordinates:
  0 13 N, 176 31 W

Map references:
  Oceania

Area:
  total: 1.4 km
  water: 0 km
  land: 1.4 km

Area - comparative:
  about 2.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
  0 km

Coastline:
  4.8 km

Maritime claims:
  exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
  territorial sea: 12 NM

Climate:
  equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun

Terrain:
  low, nearly level coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef

Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
  highest point: unnamed location 8 m

Natural resources:
  guano (deposits worked until 1891), terrestrial and aquatic wildlife

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  other: 100% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land:
  0 km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
  the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard

Environment - current issues:
  no natural fresh water resources

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

3. Baker Island People

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 2002 est.)

Population growth rate:
  NA

4. Baker Island Government

Country name:
  conventional long form: none
  conventional short form: Baker Island

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

Legal system:
  the laws of the US, where applicable, apply

Flag description:
  the flag of the US is used

5. Baker Island Economy

Economy - overview:
  no economic activity

6. Baker Island Transportation

Waterways:
  none

Ports and harbors:
  none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one small boat landing area
  along the middle of the west coast

Airports:
  1 abandoned World War II runway of 1,665 m, completely covered with
  vegetation and unusable

Transportation - note:
  there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast

7. Baker Island Military

Military - note:
  defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast
  Guard

8. Baker Island Transnational Issues

Disputes - international:
  none
