CIA World Fact Book, 2004/Baker Island


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!| 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.
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!| Location: !| Geographic coordinates: !| Map references: !| Area: water: 0 sq km land: 1.4 sq km !| Area - comparative: !| Land boundaries: !| Coastline: !| Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm !| Climate: !| Terrain: !| Elevation extremes: highest point: unnamed location 8 m !| Natural resources: !| Land use: permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2001) !| Irrigated land: !| Natural hazards: !| Environment - current issues: !| Geography - note:
 * Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and Australia
 * 0 13 N, 176 31 W
 * Oceania
 * total: 1.4 sq km
 * about 2.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
 * 0 km
 * 4.8 km
 * territorial sea: 12 nm
 * equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
 * low, nearly level coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef
 * lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
 * guano (deposits worked until 1891), terrestrial and aquatic wildlife
 * arable land: 0%
 * 0 sq km (1998 est.)
 * the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard
 * no natural fresh water resources
 * 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
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!| Population: 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 (2004 est.)
 * uninhabited
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!| Country name: conventional short form: Baker Island !| Dependency status: !| Legal system: !| Flag description:
 * conventional long form: none
 * 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
 * the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
 * the flag of the US is used
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!| Economy - overview:
 * no economic activity
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!| Ports and harbors: !| Airports: !| Transportation - note:
 * none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one small boat landing area along the middle of the west coast
 * 1 abandoned World War II runway of 1,665 m, completely covered with vegetation and unusable (2003 est.)
 * there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast
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!| Military - note:
 * defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast Guard
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