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Background:
|
 Discovered
by the US early in the 19th century, the island was officially
claimed by the US in 1857. Both US and British companies mined
for guano until about 1890. 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; it is named
in memory of the famed aviatrix Amelia EARHART. The island is
administered by the US Department of the Interior as a
National Wildlife Refuge. |
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Location:
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Oceania, island
in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and
Australia |
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Geographic coordinates:
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0 48 N, 176 38 W |
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Map references:
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Oceania |
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Area:
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total: 1.6
sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 1.6 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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about three times
the size of The Mall in Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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6.4 km |
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Climate:
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equatorial; scant
rainfall, constant wind, burning sun |
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Terrain:
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low-lying, nearly
level, sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing
reef; depressed central area |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 3 m |
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Natural resources:
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guano (deposits
worked until late 1800s), terrestrial and aquatic wildlife |
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Land use:
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arable land:
0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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0 sq km (1998
est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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the narrow
fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard |
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Environment - current issues:
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no natural fresh
water resources |
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Geography - note:
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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 |
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Population:
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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 from US Fish and
Wildlife Service only and generally restricted to scientists
and educators; visited annually by US Fish and Wildlife
Service (July 2004 est.) |
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Country name:
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conventional
long form: none
conventional short form: Howland Island |
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Dependency status:
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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 |
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Legal system:
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the laws of the
US, where applicable, apply |
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Economy - overview:
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no economic
activity |
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Waterways:
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none |
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Ports and harbors:
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none; offshore
anchorage only; note - there is one small boat landing area
along the middle of the west coast |
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Airports:
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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 (2003 est.) |
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Transportation - note:
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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 |
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Military - note:
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defense is the
responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast
Guard |
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Disputes - international:
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none |
This page was last updated on 11 May, 2004
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