Midway Islands

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The US took formal possession of the islands in 1867. The laying of the trans-Pacific cable, which passed through the islands, brought the first residents in 1903. Between 1935 and 1947, Midway was used as a refueling stop for trans-Pacific flights. The US naval victory over a Japanese fleet off Midway in 1942 was one of the turning points of World War II. The islands continued to serve as a naval station until closed in 1993. Today the islands are a national wildlife refuge. From 1996 to 2001 the refuge was open to the public. It is now temporarily closed.

	midway islands Travel Guide : 1 Geography 2 People 3 Government 4 Economy 5 Transportation 6 Transnational Issues

Geography

Location 

Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-third of the way from Honolulu to Tokyo

Geographic coordinates 

28 13 N, 177 22 W

Map references 

Oceania

Area 

total: 6.2 sq km
note: includes Eastern Island, Sand Island, and Spit Island
water: 0 sq km
land: 6.2 sq km

Area - comparative 

about nine times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries 

0 km

Coastline 

15 km

Maritime claims 

exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM

Climate 

subtropical, but moderated by prevailing easterly winds

Terrain 

low, nearly level

Elevation extremes 

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 13 m

Natural resources 

wildlife, terrestrial and aquatic

Land use 

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land 

0 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards 

NA

Geography - note 

a coral atoll managed as a national wildlife refuge and open to the public for wildlife-related recreation in the form of wildlife observation and photography, sport fishing, snorkeling, and scuba diving; the refuge is temporarily closed for reorganization at present (2003)

People

Population 

no indigenous inhabitants; approximately 40 people make up the staff of US Fish and Wildlife Service and their services cooperator living at the atoll (April 2002 est.)

Government

Country name 

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Midway Islands

Dependency status 

unincorporated territory of the US; formerly administered from Washington, DC, by the US Navy, under Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific Division; this facility has been operationally closed since 10 September 1993; on 31 October 1996, through a presidential executive order, the jurisdiction and control of the atoll was transferred to the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system

Legal system 

the laws of the US, where applicable, apply

Flag description 

the flag of the US is used

Economy

Economy - overview 

The economy is based on providing support services for the national wildlife refuge activities located on the islands. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.

Transportation

Highways 

total: NA km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km

Waterways 

none

Pipelines 

7.8 km

Ports and harbors 

Sand Island

Airports 

1 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways 

total: 2 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international 

none

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