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Background:
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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 were designated a US National Wildlife
Refuge. |
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Location:
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Oceania,
reef in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between
Hawaii and American Samoa |
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Geographic coordinates:
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6 24 N,
162 24 W |
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Map references:
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Oceania
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Area:
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total:
1 sq km
land: 1 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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about 1.7
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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3 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;
moderated by prevailing winds |
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Terrain:
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low and
nearly level |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest
point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 1 m |
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Natural resources:
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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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wet or
awash most of the time, maximum elevation of about 1
meter makes Kingman Reef a maritime hazard |
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Environment - current issues:
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none |
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Geography - note:
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barren
coral atoll with deep interior lagoon; closed to the
public |
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Population:
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uninhabited (July 2005 est.) |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Kingman Reef |
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Dependency status:
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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 |
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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 |
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Airports:
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lagoon
was used as a halfway station between Hawaii and
American Samoa by Pan American Airways for flying boats
in 1937 and 1938 (2004 est.) |
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Military - note:
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defense
is the responsibility of the US |
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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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