Midway Islands
none conventional short form: Midway Islands
Midway Islands as the 2001 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 33 fields, one of 24 editions from 1990 to 2020.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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 wildlife refuge open to the public.
Geography
Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-third of the way from Honolulu to Tokyo
17 fieldsLocation
Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-third of the way from Honolulu to Tokyo
Area
total: 6.2 sq km land: 6.2 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Eastern Island, Sand Island, and Spit Island
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100%
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
People
1 fieldPopulation
no indigenous inhabitants; approximately 150 people make up the staff of US Fish and Wildlife Service and their services cooperator living at the atoll (July 2001 est.)
Government
4 fieldsDependency 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
Economy
The economy is based on providing support services for the national wildlife refuge activities located on the islands.
1 fieldEconomy - 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
7 fieldsMilitary
1 fieldTransnational Issues
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Midway Islands.” The World Factbook 2001. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/midway-islands/2001.