modern banking system provides conduitfor money laundering; rising indigenous use of synthetic drugs,
especially among young people
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
======================================================================
@Howland Island
Introduction Howland Island
Background:
Discovered by the US early in the 19th century, the island was
officially claimed by the US in 1857. Both US and British companies
mined for guano until about 1890. Earhart Light is a day beacon near
the middle of the west coast that was partially destroyed during
World War II, but has since been rebuilt; it is named in memory of
the famed aviatrix Amelia EARHART. The island is administered by the
US Department of the Interior as a National Wildlife Refuge.
Geography Howland Island
Location:
Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between
Hawaii and Australia
Geographic coordinates:
0 48 N, 176 38 W
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 1.6 sq km
land: 1.6 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about three times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
6.4 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
Terrain:
low-lying, nearly level, sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow
fringing reef; depressed central area
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 3 m
Natural resources:
guano (deposits worked until late 1800s), terrestrial and aquatic
wildlife
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2001)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km
Natural hazards:
the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime
hazard
Environment - current issues:
no natural fresh water resources
Geography - note:
almost totally covered with grasses, prostrate vines, and
low-growing shrubs; small area of trees in the center; primarily a
nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds,
and marine wildlife
People Howland Island
Population:
uninhabited
note: American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air and
naval attacks during World War II; occupied by US military during
World War II, but abandoned after the war; 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 2005 est.)
Government Howland Island
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Howland Island
Dependency status:
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:
the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Flag description:
the flag of the US is used
Economy Howland Island
Economy - overview: no economic activity
Transportation Howland Island
Ports and harbors:
none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one small boat
landing area along the middle of the west coast
Airports:
airstrip constructed in 1937 for scheduled refueling stop on the
round-the-world flight of Amelia EARHART and Fred NOONAN - they left
Lae, New Guinea, for Howland Island, but were never seen again; the
airstrip is no longer serviceable (2004 est.)
Transportation - note:
Earhart Light is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast
that was partially destroyed during World War II, but has since been
rebuilt; named in memory of famed aviatrix Amelia EARHART
Military Howland Island
Military - note:
