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  Kingman Reef  
Flag of Kingman Reef
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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 Kingman Reef

Legend: Definition Definition Field Listing Field Listing Rank Order Rank Order
   Introduction    Kingman Reef
Background:
Definition Field Listing
The US annexed the reef in 1922. Its sheltered lagoon served as a way station for flying boats on Hawaii-to-American Samoa flights during the late 1930s. There are no terrestrial plants on the reef, which is frequently awash, but it does support abundant and diverse marine fauna and flora. In 2001, the waters surrounding the reef out to 12 NM around the reef were designated a US National Wildlife Refuge.
   Geography    Kingman Reef
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Oceania, reef in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and American Samoa
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
6 24 N, 162 24 W
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Oceania
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 1 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 1 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
0 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
3 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
tropical, but moderated by prevailing winds
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
low and nearly level
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 1 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
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
wet or awash most of the time, maximum elevation of about 1 meter makes Kingman Reef a maritime hazard
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
none
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
barren coral atoll with deep interior lagoon; closed to the public
   People    Kingman Reef
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
uninhabited (July 2003 est.)
   Government    Kingman Reef
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Kingman Reef
Dependency status:
Definition Field Listing
unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington, DC, by the US Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Interior
note: on 1 September 2000, the Department of the Interior accepted restoration of its administrative jurisdiction over Kingman Reef from the Department of the Navy; Executive Order 3223 signed 18 January 2001 established Kingman Reef National Wildlife Refuge to be administered by the Director, US Fish and Wildlife Service; this refuge is managed to protect the terrestrial and aquatic wildlife of Kingman Reef out to the 12-nautical-mile territorial sea limit
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    Kingman Reef
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
no economic activity

   Transportation    Kingman Reef
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing
none
Ports and harbors:
Definition Field Listing
none; offshore anchorage only
Airports:
Definition Field Listing
lagoon was used as a halfway station between Hawaii and American Samoa by Pan American Airways for flying boats in 1937 and 1938 (2002)
   Military    Kingman Reef
Military - note:
Definition Field Listing
defense is the responsibility of the US
   Transnational Issues    Kingman Reef
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
none

This page was last updated on 1 August, 2003


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