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Background:
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The US
annexed Wake Island in 1899 for a cable station. An
important air and naval base was constructed in 1940-41.
In December 1941, the island was captured by the
Japanese and held until the end of World War II. In
subsequent years, Wake was developed as a stopover and
refueling site for military and commercial aircraft
transiting the Pacific. Since 1974, the island's
airstrip has been used by the US military and some
commercial cargo planes, as well as for emergency
landings. There are over 700 landings a year on the
island. |
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Location:
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Oceania,
atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of
the way from Hawaii to the Northern Mariana Islands |
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Geographic coordinates:
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19 17 N,
166 36 E |
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Map references:
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Oceania
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Area:
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total:
6.5 sq km
land: 6.5 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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about 11
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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19.3 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
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Terrain:
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atoll of
three coral islands built up on an underwater volcano;
central lagoon is former crater, islands are part of the
rim |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest
point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 6 m |
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Natural resources:
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none |
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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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occasional typhoons |
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Environment - current issues:
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NA |
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Geography - note:
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strategic
location in the North Pacific Ocean; emergency landing
location for transpacific flights |
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Population:
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no
indigenous inhabitants
note: US military personnel have left the island,
but contractor personnel remain; as of October 2001, 200
contractor personnel were present (July 2005 est.) |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Wake Island |
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Dependency status:
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unincorporated territory of the US; administered from
Washington, DC, by the Department of the Interior;
activities on the island are conducted by the US Air
Force |
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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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Economic
activity is limited to providing services to contractors
located on the island. All food and manufactured goods
must be imported. |
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Electricity - production:
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NA |
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: satellite communications; 1 DSN
circuit off the Overseas Telephone System (OTS)
domestic: NA
international: NA |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 0, FM
NA, shortwave NA
note: Armed Forces Radio/Television Service (AFRTS)
radio service provided by satellite (1998) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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0 (1997)
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Ports and harbors:
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none; two
offshore anchorages for large ships |
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Airports:
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1 (2004
est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total:
1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
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Transportation - note:
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formerly
an important commercial aviation base, now used by US
military, some commercial cargo planes, and for
emergency landings |
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Military - note:
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defense
is the responsibility of the US; launch support facility
is part of the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense
Test Site (RTS) administered by US Army Space and
Missile Defense Command (SMDC) |
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Disputes - international:
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claimed
by Marshall Islands |
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This page was last updated on
20 October, 2005 |
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