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  Jarvis Island  
Flag of Jarvis Island
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  Introduction
  Geography
  People
  Government
  Economy
  Communications
  Transportation
  Military
  Transnational Issues

In general, information available as of 1 January 2003
was used in the preparation of The World Factbook 2003.


This page was last updated on 1 August, 2003


Map of Jarvis Island

Legend: Definition Definition Field Listing Field Listing Rank Order Rank Order
   Introduction    Jarvis Island
Background:
Definition Field Listing
First discovered by the British in 1821, the uninhabited island was annexed by the US in 1858, but abandoned in 1879 after tons of guano had been removed. The UK annexed the island in 1889, but never carried out plans for further exploitation. The US occupied and reclaimed the island in 1935. Abandoned after World War II, the island is currently a National Wildlife Refuge administered by the US Department of the Interior; a day beacon is situated near the middle of the west coast.
   Geography    Jarvis Island
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and the Cook Islands
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
0 22 S, 160 03 W
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Oceania
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 4.5 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 4.5 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
0 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
8 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
tropical; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 7 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
guano (deposits worked until late 1800s), terrestrial and aquatic wildlife
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island poses a maritime hazard
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
no natural fresh water resources
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
sparse bunch grass, prostrate vines, and low-growing shrubs; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife
   People    Jarvis Island
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
uninhabited
note: Millersville settlement on western side of island occasionally used as a weather station from 1935 until World War II, when it was abandoned; reoccupied in 1957 during the International Geophysical Year by scientists who left in 1958; 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 2003 est.)
   Government    Jarvis Island
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Jarvis Island
Dependency status:
Definition Field Listing
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
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    Jarvis Island
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
no economic activity

   Transportation    Jarvis Island
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing
none
Ports and harbors:
Definition Field Listing
none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one small boat landing area in the middle of the west coast and another near the southwest corner of the island
Transportation - note:
Definition Field Listing
there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast
   Military    Jarvis Island
Military - note:
Definition Field Listing
defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast Guard
   Transnational Issues    Jarvis Island
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
none

This page was last updated on 1 August, 2003


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