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This page was last updated on 17 May, 2005


Map of Midway Islands



Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Midway Islands
Background:
Definition Field Listing
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    Midway Islands
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-third of the way from Honolulu to Tokyo
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
28 13 N, 177 22 W
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Oceania
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
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:
Definition Field Listing
about nine times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
0 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
15 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
subtropical; moderated by prevailing easterly winds
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
low, nearly level
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 13 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
wildlife, terrestrial and aquatic
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2001)
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
a coral atoll managed as a national wildlife refuge and open to the public for wildlife-related recreation in the form of wildlife observation and photography, sport fishing, snorkeling, and scuba diving; the refuge is temporarily closed for reorganization at present (2004)
   People    Midway Islands
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
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.)
   Government    Midway Islands
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Midway Islands
Dependency status:
Definition Field Listing
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
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    Midway Islands
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
The economy is based on providing support services for the national wildlife refuge activities located on the islands. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.

   Transportation    Midway Islands
Highways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: NA km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors:
Definition Field Listing
Sand Island
Airports:
Definition Field Listing
3 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Transportation - note:
Definition Field Listing
airfield serves as an emergency landing site for commercial aircraft crossing the Pacific Ocean
   Military    Midway Islands
Military - note:
Definition Field Listing
defense is the responsibility of the US
   Transnational Issues    Midway Islands
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
none

This page was last updated on 17 May, 2005


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