ibility of the US

Transnational Issues
Virgin Islands

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Wake Island

Introduction
Wake Island

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, as well as for emergency landings. All operations on the
island were suspended and all personnel evacuated in August 2006
with the approach of super typhoon IOKE (category 5), which struck
the island with sustained winds of 250 kph and a 6 m storm surge
inflicting major damage. A US Air Force assessment and repair team
returned to the island in September and restored limited function to
the airfield and facilities. The future status of activities on the
island will be determined upon completion of the survey and
assessment.

Geography
Wake Island

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 39 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:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical

Terrain:

atoll of three low coral islands, Peale, Wake, and Wilkes, 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%
other: 100% (2005)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km

Natural hazards:

occasional typhoons

Environment - current issues:

NA

Geography - note:

strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean; emergency landing
location for transpacific flights

People
Wake Island

Population:

no i