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

Introduction

Kingman Reef

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Background:

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

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Location:	Oceania, reef in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and American Samoa
Geographic coordinates:	6 24 N, 162 24 W
Map references:	Oceania
Area:	total: 1 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 1 sq km
Area - comparative:	about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:	0 km
Coastline:	3 km
Maritime claims:	exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:	tropical, but moderated by prevailing winds
Terrain:	low and nearly level
Elevation extremes:	lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 1 m
Natural resources:	terrestrial and aquatic wildlife
Land use:	arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:	0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:	wet or awash most of the time, maximum elevation of about 1 meter makes Kingman Reef a maritime hazard
Environment - current issues:	none
Geography - note:	barren coral atoll with deep interior lagoon; closed to the public

People

Kingman Reef

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Population:

uninhabited (July 2003 est.)

Government

Kingman Reef

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Country name:	conventional long form: none conventional short form: Kingman Reef
Dependency status:	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:	the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Flag description:	the flag of the US is used

Economy

Kingman Reef

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Economy - overview:

no economic activity

Transportation

Kingman Reef

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Waterways:	none
Ports and harbors:	none; offshore anchorage only
Airports:	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

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Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues

Kingman Reef

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Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 1 August, 2003