Howland Island

Howland Island

Territory of the U.S.

 
Geography                 Economy                 Defense Forces
 

People                    Transportation          Government



Communications            >History      	          Travel

GEOGRAPHY

Location

Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia

Area

Land Boundaries

0 km

Coastline

6.4 km

Maritime Claims

International Disputes

None

Climate

Equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun

Terrain

Low-lying, nearly level, sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef; depressed central area
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: 3 m

Natural Resources

Land Use

Irrigated Land

0 sq km

Environment

Note: Almost totally covered with grasses, prostrate vines, and low-growing shrubs; small area of trees in the center; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife; feral cats

PEOPLE

Population

Uninhabited; note - American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air and naval attacks during World War II; occupied by U.S. military during World War II, but abandoned after the war; public entry is by special-use permit only and generally restricted to scientists and educators

GOVERNMENT

Names

Digraph

HQ

Type

Unincorporated territory of the U.S. administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the U.S. Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System

Capital

None; administered from Washington, DC

Flag

The flag of the US is used

usa

ECONOMY

Overview

No economic activity

TRANSPORTATION

Ports

None; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one boat landing area along the middle of the west coast

Airports

Airstrip constructed in 1937 for scheduled refueling stop on the round-the-world flight of Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan - they left Lae, New Guinea, for Howland Island, but were never seen again; the airstrip is no longer serviceable

Note: Earhart Light is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast that was partially destroyed during World War II, but has since been rebuilt in memory of famed aviatrix Amelia Earhart

DEFENSE FORCES

Note: Defense is the responsibility of the U.S.; visited annually by the U.S. Coast Guard

TRAVEL

Note: Entrance to the island is only possible after obtaining a special permit. This is usually only granted to scientists educators and militairy personnel; if you obtain a permit, expect it to be hot and rainy on the island.

History
World Atlas

Last modified: 12 november 1997