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Howland Island
Background:
Discovered by the US early in the 19th century, the island was officially
claimed by the US in 1857. Both British companies and US 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.
Location:
Location: Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between
Hawaii and Australia.
Area: Total: 1.6 sq km.
Area - comparative: About three times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC.
Coastline: 6.4 km.
Maritime claims: Exclusive economic zone: 200 NM, territorial sea: 12 NM.
Climate and Terrain:
Climate: Equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun.
Terrain: low-lying, nearly level, sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow
fringing reef; depressed central area
Elevation extremes: Lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m, highest point: unnamed
location 3 m.
Natural resources: Guano (deposits worked until late 1800s), terrestrial and
aquatic wildlife.
Land use: Arable land: 0% .
Natural hazards: The narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a
maritime hazard.
Environment - current issues: No natural fresh water resources.
Geography - 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.
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People:
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 from US Fish and Wildlife Service only and generally
restricted to scientists and educators; visited annually by US Fish and
Wildlife Service.
Government:
Dependency status: 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.
Economy overview:
No economic activity
Statistics:
Ports and harbors: None; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one small
boat landing area along the middle of the west coast.
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.
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.
Visited annually by the US Coast Guard.
Return to US Minor Outlying Islands
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