Wake Island
Wake Island as the 2004 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 34 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 fieldsLand useshare of 6.5 sq km
Location
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
Geography - note
strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean; emergency landing location for transpacific flights
People
1 fieldPopulation
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 2004 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 conducted by the US Army under a caretaker permit from the US Air Force
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
4 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved only
Transportation - note
formerly an important commercial aviation base, now used by US military, some commercial cargo planes, and for emergency landings
Military
1 fieldMilitary - note
defense is the responsibility of the US; launch support 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
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Wake Island.” The World Factbook 2004. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/wake-island/2004.