Palmyra Atoll

Palmyra Atoll as the 2019 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 25 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 04 W

Area11.9 sq km

LocationOceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and American Samoa

2019

Every edition of Palmyra Atoll

Populationas each edition published it

2,014 people July 2014 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 part privately owned by the Nature Conservancy and part US Government-owned and administered 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 were designated a National Wildlife Refuge in January 2001.

Geography

Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and American Samoa

15 fields

Area

11.9sq km

land: 11.9 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmabout 20 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Coastline

14.5km

land boundaries: 0 kmterritorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Highest point

10m

unnamed location on Sand Islandmean elevation: 2 mlowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

Location

Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and American Samoa

Geographic coordinates

5 52 N, 162 04 W

Map references

Oceania

Climate

equatorial, hot, and very rainy

Terrain

very lowlying atoll consists of an extensive reef, two shallow lagoons, and about 50 islets and bars covered with vegetation

Natural resources

terrestrial and aquatic wildlife

Natural hazards

an extensive surrounding reef is only penetrated by a single western channel

Environment - current issues

a few of the islets are designated Unexploded Ordnance Areas, a legacy of US Navy occupation (1934-59), and are closed to entry;
invasive plants and insects compete with native biota

Geography - note

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

People and Society

1 field

Population

2014est.)

no indigenous inhabitants (Julynote: variable temporary population of 4 to 20 staff and scientists of the Nature Conservancy and the US Fish and Wildlife Service

Government

4 fields

Country name

conventional long form:: none
conventional short form:: Palmyra Atoll
etymology:: named for the USS Palmyra, which was shipwrecked on the reef in 1802

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;
the Office of Insular Affairs of the US Department of the Interior continues to administer nine excluded areas comprising certain tidal and submerged lands within the 12 nm territorial sea limit or within the lagoon