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Kingman Reef
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Background:
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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 around the reef were designated a US National Wildlife Refuge. |
| Geography | Kingman Reef |
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Location:
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Oceania, reef in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and American Samoa |
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Geographic coordinates: | 6 24 N, 162 24 W |
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Map references:
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Oceania |
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Area:
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total: 1 sq km
water: 0 sq km land: 1 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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3 km |
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Maritime claims - as described in UNCLOS 1982 (see Notes and Definitions):
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territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM |
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Climate:
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tropical; moderated by prevailing winds |
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Terrain:
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low and nearly level |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 1 m |
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Natural resources:
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terrestrial and aquatic wildlife |
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Land use:
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arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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0 sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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wet or awash most of the time, maximum elevation of about 1 meter makes Kingman Reef a maritime hazard |
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Environment - current issues:
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none |
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Geography - note:
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barren coral atoll with deep interior lagoon; closed to the public |
| People | Kingman Reef |
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Population:
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uninhabited (July 2004 est.) |
| Government | Kingman Reef |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Kingman Reef |
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Dependency status:
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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 |
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Legal system:
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the laws of the US, where applicable, apply |
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Flag description:
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the flag of the US is used |
| Economy | Kingman Reef |
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Economy - overview:
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no economic activity |
| Transportation | Kingman Reef |
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Waterways:
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none |
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Ports and harbors:
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none; offshore anchorage only |
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Airports:
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lagoon was used as a halfway station between Hawaii and American Samoa by Pan American Airways for flying boats in 1937 and 1938 (2003 est.) |
| Military | Kingman Reef |
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Military - note:
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defense is the responsibility of the US |
| Transnational Issues | Kingman Reef |
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Disputes - international:
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none |