Jarvis Island

1. Jarvis Island Introduction

Background:
  First discovered by the British in 1821, the uninhabited island was annexed
  by the US in 1858, but abandoned in 1879 after tons of guano had been
  removed. The UK annexed the island in 1889, but never carried out plans for
  further exploitation. The US occupied and reclaimed the island in 1935.
  Abandoned after World War II, the island is currently a National Wildlife
  Refuge administered by the US Department of the Interior; a day beacon is
  situated near the middle of the west coast.

2. Jarvis Island Geography

Location:
  Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii
  and the Cook Islands

Geographic coordinates:
  0 22 S, 160 03 W

Map references:
  Oceania

Area:
  total: 4.5 km
  water: 0 km
  land: 4.5 km

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

Land boundaries:
  0 km

Coastline:
  8 km

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

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

Terrain:
  sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef

Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
  highest point: unnamed location 7 m

Natural resources:
  guano (deposits worked until late 1800s), 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 poses a maritime hazard

Environment - current issues:
  no natural fresh water resources

Geography - note:
  sparse bunch grass, prostrate vines, and low-growing shrubs; primarily a
  nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and
  marine wildlife

3. Jarvis Island People

Population:
  uninhabited
  note: Millersville settlement on western side of island occasionally used
    as a weather station from 1935 until World War II, when it was abandoned;
    reoccupied in 1957 during the International Geophysical Year by
    scientists who left in 1958; 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 Service (July
    2002 est.)

Population growth rate:
  NA

4. Jarvis Island Government

Country name:
  conventional long form: none
  conventional short form: Jarvis 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. Jarvis Island Economy

Economy - overview:
  no economic activity

6. Jarvis Island Transportation

Waterways:
  none

Ports and harbors:
  none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one small boat landing area
  in the middle of the west coast and another near the southwest corner of
  the island

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

7. Jarvis Island Military

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

8. Jarvis Island Transnational Issues

Disputes - international:
  none
