Wake Island
none conventional short form: Wake Island
Wake Island as the 2001 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 36 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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 and some commercial cargo planes, as well as for emergency landings. There are over 700 landings a year on the island.
Geography
Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to the Northern Mariana Islands
17 fieldsLocation
Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to the Northern Mariana Islands
Terrain
atoll of three coral islands built up on an underwater volcano; central lagoon is former crater, islands are part of the rim
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100%
Geography - note
strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean; emergency landing location for transpacific flights
People
2 fieldsPopulation
- no indigenous inhabitants note:
- US military personnel have left the island, but civilian personnel remain;
- as of December 2000, one US Army civilian and 123 civilian contractor personnel were present (January 2001 est.)
Government
4 fieldsDependency status
- unincorporated territory of the US;
- administered from Washington, DC, by the Department of the Interior;
- activities on the island are managed by the US Army under a US Air Force permit
Economy
Economic activity is limited to providing services to contractors located on the island.
2 fieldsEconomy - overview
Economic activity is limited to providing services to contractors located on the island. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.
Communications
3 fieldsTelephone system
general assessment: satellite communications; 1 DSN circuit off the Overseas Telephone System (OTS) domestic: NA international: NA
Radio broadcast stations
AM 0, FM NA, shortwave NA note: Armed Forces Radio/Television Service (AFRTS) radio service provided by satellite (1998)
Transportation
5 fieldsTransportation - note
formerly an important commercial aviation base, now used by US military, some commercial cargo planes, and for emergency landings
Military
1 fieldTransnational Issues
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Wake Island.” The World Factbook 2001. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/wake-island/2001.