from
CIA World Factbook 2006
Wake Island
Introduction
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 Loke (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
Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about
two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to the Northern
Mariana Islands
Geographic 19 17 N, 166 39 E
coordinates:
Map Oceania
references:
Area: total: 6.5 sq km
land: 6.5 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
comparative:
Land 0 km
boundaries:
Coastline: 19.3 km
Maritime territorial sea: 12 nm
claims: 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 lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
extremes: highest point: unnamed location 6 m
Natural none
resources:
Land use: arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)
Irrigated 0 sq km
land:
Natural occasional typhoons
hazards:
Environment - NA
current
issues:
Geography - strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean;
note: emergency landing location for transpacific flights
People
Population: no indigenous inhabitants
note: US military personnel have left the island, but
contractor personnel remain; as of October 2001, 200
contractor personnel were present (July 2006 est.)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Wake Island
Dependency unincorporated territory of the US; administered from
status: Washington, DC, by the Department of the Interior;
activities on the island are conducted by the US Air
Force
Legal system: the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Flag the flag of the US is used
description:
Economy
Economy - Economic activity is limited to providing services to
overview: military personnel and contractors located on the
island. All food and manufactured goods must be
imported.
Electricity - NA kWh
production:
Communications
Telephone general assessment: satellite communications; 1 DSN
system: circuit off the Overseas Telephone System (OTS)
domestic: NA
international: NA
Radio AM 0, FM 0, shortwave 0
broadcast note: Armed Forces Radio/Television Service (AFRTS)
stations: radio service provided by satellite (2005)
Television 0
broadcast note: Armed Forces Radio/Television Service (AFRTS)
stations: radio service provided by satellite (2005)
Transportation
Airports: 1 (2006)
Airports - total: 1
with paved 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2006)
runways:
Ports and none; two offshore anchorages for large ships
terminals:
Transportation there are no commercial or civilian flights to and from
- note: Wake Island, except in direct support of island
missions; emergency landing is available
Military
Military - defense is the responsibility of the US; launch support
note: facility is part of the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile
Defense Test Site (RTS) administered by US Army Space
and Missile Defense Command (SMDC)
Transnational
Issues
Disputes - claimed by Marshall Islands
international: