1BluePlanet Midway Islands

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1BluePlanet Midway Islands

midway Islands

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Introduction: MIDWAY ISLANDS

The US took formal possession of the islands in 1867. The laying of the trans-Pacific cable, which passed through the islands, brought the first residents in 1903. Between 1935 and 1947, Midway was used as a refueling stop for trans-Pacific flights. The US naval victory over a Japanese fleet off Midway in 1942 was one of the turning points of World War II. The islands continued to serve as a naval station until closed in 1993. Today the islands are a national wildlife refuge. From 1996 to 2001 the refuge was open to the public; it is now temporarily closed.

GEOGRAPHY
Country name:	conventional long form: none conventional short form: Midway Islands
Capital:
Location:	Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-third of the way from Honolulu to Tokyo
Geographic Coordinates:	28 13 N, 177 22 W
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
Land Boundaries:	0 km
Coastline:	15 km
Maritime Claims:	territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:	subtropical; moderated by prevailing easterly winds
Terrain:	low, nearly level
Elavation Extremes:	lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 13 m
Natural Resources:	wildlife, terrestrial and aquatic
GOVERNEMENT
Governement Type:
Administratives Divisions:
Independence	unincorporated territory of the US; formerly administered from Washington, DC, by the US Navy; 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
National Holiday:
Constitution:
Legal System;	the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Suffrage
Executive Branch:
Legislative Branch:
Judicial Branch:
Political parties and Leaders:
PEOPLE
Population:	no indigenous inhabitants; approximately 40 people make up the staff of US Fish and Wildlife Service and their services contractor living at the atoll (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:
Median age:
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COMUNICATIONS
Telephones - main lines in use:
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Telephone system:
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Internet country code:
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Internet users:
TRANSPORT
Railways:
Highways:	total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Waterways:
Pipelines:
Ports and harbors:	Sand Island
Merchant marine:
Airports:	3 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:	total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:	total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Heliports: