Jarvis Island
 | Territory of the U.S. |
Geography 
Economy 
Defense Forces
People 
Transportation 
Government
Communications 
History 
Travel
GEOGRAPHY
Location
Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to the Cook Islands
Area
- Total area: 4.5 sq km
- Land area: 4.5 sq km
- Comparative area: about 7.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land Boundaries
0 km
Coastline
8 km
Maritime Claims
- Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
- Territorial sea: 12 nm
International Disputes
None
Climate
Tropical; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
Terrain
Sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: 23 m
Natural Resources
- Guano (deposits worked until late 1800s)
Land Use
- Arable land: 0%
- Permanent crops: 0%
- Meadows and pastures: 0%
- Forest and woodland: 0%
- Other: 100%
Irrigated Land
0 sq km
Environment
- Current issues: no natural fresh water resources
- Natural hazards: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard
- International agreements: NA
Note: Sparse bunch grass, prostrate vines, and low-growing shrubs; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife; feral cats
PEOPLE
Population
Uninhabited; note - Millersville settlement on western side of island occasionally used as a weather station from 1935 until World War II, when it was abandoned; reoccupied in 1957 during the International Geophysical Year by scientists who left in 1958; public entry is by special-use permit only and generally restricted to scientists and educators
GOVERNMENT
Names
- Conventional long form: none
- Conventional short form: Jarvis Island
Digraph
DQ
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
ECONOMY
Overview
No economic activity
TRANSPORTATION
Ports
None; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one boat landing area in the middle of the west coast and another near the southwest corner of the island
Note: There is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast
DEFENSE FORCES
Note: Defense is the responsibility of the U.S.; visited annually by the U.S. Coast Guard
TRAVEL
Note: Entry is only possible with a permit, which is usually only given to scientists, educators and military personnel. If you obtain an entry permit, expect the island to be hot, windy and abandoned
History
World Atlas
Last modified: 12 november 1997
