Virgin Islands Military

Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US

Virgin Islands Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: none

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@Wake Island

Wake Island Introduction

Background: 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.

Wake Island Geography

Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about
two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to the Northern Mariana Islands

Geographic coordinates: 19 17 N, 166 36 E

Map references: Oceania

Area: total: 6.5 sq km

land: 6.5 sq km

water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative: about 11 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 19.3 km

Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM

territorial sea: 12 NM

Climate: tropical

Terrain: atoll of three coral islands built up on an underwater
volcano; central lagoon is former crater, islands are part of the rim

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

highest point: unnamed location 6 m

Natural resources: none

Land use: arable land: 0%

permanent crops: 0%

permanent pastures: 0%

forests and woodland: 0%

other: 100%

Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1998)

Natural hazards: occasional typhoons

Environment - current issues: NA

Geography - note: strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean;
emergency landing location for transpacific flights

Wake Island People

Population: no indigenous inhabitants

note: US military personnel have left the island, but civilian
personnel remain; as of December 2000, one US Army civilian and 123
civilian contractor personnel were present (January 2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA

Wake Island Government

Country name: conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Wake Island

Dependency status: unincorporated territory of the US; adm