1996 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1996 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
Description
the flag of the US is used
Location
0 48 N, 176 38 W -- Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia Flag ----
Geography
Area
- comparative area
- about three times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
- land area
- 1.6 sq km
- total area
- 1.6 sq km
Climate
equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
Coastline
6.4 km
Environment
- current issues
- no natural fresh water resources
- international agreements
- NA
- natural hazards
- the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard
Geographic coordinates
0 48 N, 176 38 W
Geographic 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 wildlife; feral cats
International disputes
none
Irrigated land
0 sq km
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
- arable land
- 0%
- forest and woodland
- 5%
- meadows and pastures
- 0%
- other
- 95%
- permanent crops
- 0%
Location
Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Map references
Oceania
Maritime claims
- exclusive economic zone
- 200 nm
- territorial sea
- 12 nm
Natural resources
guano (deposits worked until late 1800s)
Terrain
- low-lying, nearly level, sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef; depressed central area
- highest point
- unnamed location 3 m
- lowest point
- Pacific Ocean 0 m
People and Society
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 only and generally restricted to scientists and educators
Government
Capital
none; administered from Washington, DC
Data code
HQ
Flag
the flag of the US is used
Name of country
- conventional long form
- none
- conventional short form
- Howland Island
Type of government
unincorporated territory of the US administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System
Economy
Economic overview
no economic activity
Transportation
Airports
airstrip constructed in 1937 for scheduled refueling stop on the round-the-world flight of Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan - they left Lae, New Guinea, for Howland Island, but were never seen again; the airstrip is no longer serviceable
Defense note
defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast Guard
Ports
none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one boat landing area along the middle of the west coast
Transportation note
Earhart Light is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast that was partially destroyed during World War II, but has since been rebuilt; named in memory of famed aviatrix Amelia Earhart Defense