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Background:
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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.
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Location:
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Oceania,
island in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way
between Hawaii and the Cook Islands |
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Geographic coordinates:
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0 22 S,
160 03 W |
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Map references:
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Oceania
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Area:
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total:
4.5 sq km
land: 4.5 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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about
eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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8 km |
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
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Climate:
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tropical;
scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun |
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Terrain:
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sandy,
coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest
point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 7 m |
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Natural resources:
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guano
(deposits worked until late 1800s), terrestrial and
aquatic wildlife |
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Land use:
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arable
land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2001) |
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Irrigated land:
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0 sq km
(1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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the
narrow fringing reef surrounding the island poses a
maritime hazard |
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Environment - current issues:
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no
natural fresh water resources |
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Geography - note:
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sparse
bunch grass, prostrate vines, and low-growing shrubs;
primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for
seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife |
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Population:
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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 2005 est.) |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Jarvis Island |
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Dependency status:
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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 |
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Legal system:
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the laws
of the US, where applicable, apply |
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Flag description:
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the flag
of the US is used |
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Economy - overview:
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no
economic activity |
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Ports and harbors:
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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 |
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Transportation - note:
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there is
a day beacon near the middle of the west coast |
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Military - note:
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defense
is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the
US Coast Guard |
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Disputes - international:
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none |
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This page was last updated on
20 October, 2005 |
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