This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Legend: Definition Field Listing Rank Order

Background:

The US annexed the reef in 1922. Its sheltered lagoon served as a way station for flying boats on Hawaii-to-American Samoa flights during the late 1930s. There are no terrestrial plants on the reef, which is frequently awash, but it does support abundant and diverse marine fauna and flora. In 2001, the waters surrounding the reef out to 12 nm were designated a US National Wildlife Refuge.

Location:	Oceania, reef in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and American Samoa
Geographic coordinates:	6 24 N, 162 24 W
Map references:	Oceania
Area:	total: 1 sq km land: 1 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:	about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:	0 km
Coastline:	3 km
Maritime claims:	territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:	tropical; moderated by prevailing winds
Terrain:	low and nearly level
Elevation extremes:	lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 1 m
Natural resources:	terrestrial and aquatic wildlife
Land use:	arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2001)
Irrigated land:	0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:	wet or awash most of the time, maximum elevation of about 1 meter makes Kingman Reef a maritime hazard
Environment - current issues:	none
Geography - note:	barren coral atoll with deep interior lagoon; closed to the public

Population:

uninhabited (July 2005 est.)

Country name:	conventional long form: none conventional short form: Kingman Reef
Dependency status:	unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington, DC, by the US Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Interior note: on 1 September 2000, the Department of the Interior accepted restoration of its administrative jurisdiction over Kingman Reef from the Department of the Navy; Executive Order 3223 signed 18 January 2001 established Kingman Reef National Wildlife Refuge to be administered by the Director, US Fish and Wildlife Service; this refuge is managed to protect the terrestrial and aquatic wildlife of Kingman Reef out to the 12-nautical-mile territorial sea limit
Legal system:	the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Flag description:	the flag of the US is used

Economy - overview:

no economic activity

Ports and harbors:	none; offshore anchorage only
Airports:	lagoon was used as a halfway station between Hawaii and American Samoa by Pan American Airways for flying boats in 1937 and 1938 (2004 est.)

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the US

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005