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  Palmyra Atoll  
Flag of Palmyra Atoll
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  Geography
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In general, information available as of 1 January 2002
was used in the preparation of The World Factbook 2002.


This page was last updated on 19 March 2003


Map of Palmyra Atoll

Legend: Definition Definition Field Listing Field Listing
   Introduction    Palmyra Atoll
Background:
Definition Field Listing
The Kingdom of Hawaii claimed the atoll in 1862, and the US included it among the Hawaiian Islands when it annexed the archipelago in 1898. The Hawaii Statehood Act of 1959 did not include Palmyra Atoll, which is now privately owned by the Nature Conservancy. This organization is managing the atoll as a nature preserve. The lagoons and surrounding waters within the 12 nautical mile US territorial seas were transferred to the US Fish and Wildlife Service and were designated a National Wildlife Refuge in January 2001.
   Geography    Palmyra Atoll
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and American Samoa
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
5 52 N, 162 06 W
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Oceania
Area:
Definition Field Listing
total: 11.9 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 11.9 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
about 20 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
0 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
14.5 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
equatorial, hot, and very rainy
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
very low
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 2 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
terrestrial and aquatic wildlife
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (forests and woodlands) (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
about 50 islets covered with dense vegetation, coconut trees, and balsa-like trees up to 30 meters tall
   People    Palmyra Atoll
Population:
Definition Field Listing
no indigenous inhabitants; 4 to 20 Nature Conservancy staff, US Fish and Wildlife staff (July 2002 est.)
   Government    Palmyra Atoll
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Palmyra Atoll
Dependency status:
Definition Field Listing
incorporated territory of the US; privately owned, but administered from Washington, DC, by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
the flag of the US is used
   Economy    Palmyra Atoll
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
no economic activity

   Transportation    Palmyra Atoll
Highways:
Definition Field Listing
much of the road and many causeways built during World War II are unserviceable and overgrown (2001)
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing
none
Ports and harbors:
Definition Field Listing
West Lagoon
Airports:
Definition Field Listing
1 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
   Military    Palmyra Atoll
Military - note:
Definition Field Listing
defense is the responsibility of the US
   Transnational Issues    Palmyra Atoll
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
none

This page was last updated on 19 March 2003


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