1999 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1999 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Area
total: 6.2 sq km land: 6.2 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Eastern Island, Sand Island, and Spit Island
Area--comparative
about nine times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Climate
subtropical, but moderated by prevailing easterly winds
Coastline
15 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 4 m
Environment--current issues
NA
Environment--international agreements
party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geographic coordinates
28 13 N, 177 22 W
Geography--note
a coral atoll managed as a national wildlife refuge and open to the public for wildlife-related recreation in the form of wildlife observation and photography, sport fishing, snorkeling, and scuba diving
Irrigated land
0 sq km (1998)
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100%
Location
Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-third of the way from Honolulu to Tokyo
Map references
Oceania
Maritime claims
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural hazards
NA
Natural resources
wildlife, terrestrial and aquatic
Terrain
low, nearly level
People and Society
Population
no indigenous inhabitants
Government
Capital
none; administered from Washington, DC
Country name
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Midway Islands
Data code
MQ
Dependency status
unincorporated territory of the US; formerly administered from Washington, DC, by the US Navy, under Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific Division; this facility has been operationally closed since 10 September 1993; on 31 October 1996, through a presidential executive order, the jurisdiction and control of the atoll was transferred to the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system
Flag description
the flag of the US is used
Legal system
NA
Economy
Economy--overview
The economy is based on providing support services for the national wildlife refuge activities located on the islands. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.
Transportation
Airports
3 (1998 est.) Airports--with paved runways: total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1998 est.) Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Highways
total: 32 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Pipelines
7.8 km Ports and harbors: Sand Island
Military and Security
Military--note
defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international
none