Kingman Reef

1. Kingman Reef Introduction

Background:
  The US annexed the reef in 1922. Its sheltered lagoon served as a way
  station for flying boats on Hawaii-to- American Samoa flights during the
  late 1930s. There is no flora on the reef, which is frequently awash, but
  it does support an abundant and diverse marine fauna. In 2001, the waters
  surrounding the reef were designated a National Wildlife Refuge.

2. Kingman Reef Geography

Location:
  Oceania, reef in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and
  American Samoa

Geographic coordinates:
  6 24 N, 162 24 W

Map references:
  Oceania

Area:
  total: 1 km
  water: 0 km
  land: 1 km

Area - comparative:
  about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
  0 km

Coastline:
  3 km

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

Climate:
  tropical, but moderated by prevailing winds

Terrain:
  low and nearly level

Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
  highest point: unnamed location 1 m

Natural resources:
  terrestrial and aquatic wildlife

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

Irrigated land:
  0 km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
  wet or awash most of the time, maximum elevation of about 1 meter makes
  Kingman Reef a maritime hazard

Environment - current issues:
  none

Geography - note:
  barren coral atoll with deep interior lagoon; closed to the public

3. Kingman Reef People

Population:
  uninhabited (July 2002 est.)

Population growth rate:
  NA

4. Kingman Reef Government

Country name:
  conventional long form: none
  conventional short form: Kingman Reef

Dependency status:
  unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington, DC, by
  the US Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Interior
  note: on 1 September 2000, the Department of the Interior accepted
    restoration of its administrative jurisdiction over Kingman Reef from the
    Department of the Navy; Executive Order 3223 signed 18 January 2001
    established Kingman Reef National Wildlife Refuge to be administered by
    the Director, US Fish and Wildlife Service; this refuge is managed to
    protect the terrestrial and aquatic wildlife of Kingman Reef out to the
    12-nautical-mile territorial sea limit

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

Flag description:
  the flag of the US is used

5. Kingman Reef Economy

Economy - overview:
  no economic activity

6. Kingman Reef Transportation

Waterways:
  none

Ports and harbors:
  none; offshore anchorage only

Airports:
  lagoon was used as a halfway station between Hawaii and American Samoa by
  Pan American Airways for flying boats in 1937 and 1938

7. Kingman Reef Military

Military - note:
  defense is the responsibility of the US

8. Kingman Reef Transnational Issues

Disputes - international:
  none
