Palmyra Atoll

none conventional short form: Palmyra Atoll

Palmyra Atoll as the 2001 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 31 fields, one of 24 editions from 1990 to 2020.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

Position5 52 N, 162 06 W
Area11.9 sq km land: 11.9 sq km water: 0 sq km
LocationOceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to American Samoa
Populationas each edition published it
4 people July 2001 est. · 2,000 in 2000

Introduction

1 field

Background

The Kingdom of Hawaii claimed the atoll in 1862, and the US included it among the Hawaiian Islands when it annexed the archipelago in 1898. The Hawaii Statehood Act of 1959 did not include Palmyra Atoll, which is now privately owned by the Nature Conservancy. This organization is managing the atoll as a nature preserve. The lagoons and surrounding waters within the 12 nautical mile US territorial seas were transferred to the US Fish and Wildlife service and designated a National Wildlife Refuge in January 2001.

Geography

Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to American Samoa

17 fields
Coastline
14.5km
land boundaries: 0 kmexclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Irrigated land
0sq km
(1993)

Location

Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to American Samoa

Geographic coordinates

5 52 N, 162 06 W

Area

total: 11.9 sq km land: 11.9 sq km water: 0 sq km

Climate

equatorial, hot, and very rainy

Terrain

very low

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 2 m

Natural resources

terrestrial and aquatic wildlife

Land use

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 100% other: 0%

Geography - note

about 50 islets covered with dense vegetation, coconut trees, and balsa-like trees up to 30 meters tall

People

1 field
Population
4
no indigenous inhabitants; · to 20 Nature Conservancy staff, US Fish and Wildlife staff (July 2001 est.)

Government

4 fields

Country name

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Palmyra Atoll

Dependency status

incorporated territory of the US; privately owned, but administered from Washington, DC, by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior

Flag description

the flag of the US is used

Economy

No economic activity

1 field

Economy - overview

no economic activity

Transportation

5 fields

Highways

much of the road and many causeways built during World War II are unserviceable and overgrown (2001)

Airports

1 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2000 est.)

Military

1 field

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues

1 field

Cite this entry

Central Intelligence Agency. “Palmyra Atoll.” The World Factbook 2001. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/palmyra-atoll/2001.