1BluePlanet Baker Island

baker island

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Introduction:BAKER ISLAND

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.

GEOGRAPHY
Country name:	conventional long form: none conventional short form: Baker Island
Capital:
Location:	Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and Australia
Geographic Coordinates:	0 13 N, 176 31 W
Area:	total: 1.4 sq km land: 1.4 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area Comparative:	about 2.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land Boundaries:	0 km
Coastline:	4.8 km
Maritime Claims:	territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:	equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
Terrain:	low, nearly level coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef
Elavation Extremes:	lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 8 m
Natural Resources:	guano (deposits worked until 1891), terrestrial and aquatic wildlife
GOVERNEMENT
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Independence
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Suffrage
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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; 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.)
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COMUNICATIONS
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TRANSPORT
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Ports and harbors:	none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one small boat landing area along the middle of the west coast
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Airports:	1 abandoned World War II runway of 1,665 m, completely covered with vegetation and unusable (2003 est.)
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