Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about
one-third of the way from Hawaii to the Marshall Islands
Geographic coordinates: 16 45 N, 169 30 W
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 2.8 sq km
land: 2.8 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about 4.7 times the size of The Mall
in Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 10 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical, but generally dry; consistent northeast
trade winds with little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: mostly flat
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Summit Peak 5 m
Natural resources: NA; guano deposits worked until depletion
about 1890
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: NA
Environment - current issues: no natural fresh water resources
Geography - note: strategic location in the North Pacific
Ocean; Johnston Island and Sand Island are natural islands, which
have been expanded by coral dredging; North Island (Akau) and East
Island (Hikina) are manmade islands formed from coral dredging;
closed to the public; former US nuclear weapons test site; site
of Johnston Atoll Chemical Agent Disposal System (JACADS); some
low-growing vegetation
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