Wake Island

Wake 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 two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to the Northern Mariana Islands

Area

Land Boundaries

0 km

Coastline

19.3 km

Maritime Claims

International Disputes

Claimed by the Republic of the Marshall Islands

Climate

Tropical

Terrain

Atoll of three coral islands built up on an underwater volcano; central lagoon is former crater, islands are part of the rim; average elevation less than 4 meters
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: 6 m

Natural Resources

Land Use

Irrigated Land

0 sq km

Environment

Note: Strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean; emergency landing location for transpacific flights

PEOPLE

Population

No indigenous inhabitants; there are 302 US military and contract personnel (July 1995 est.)

GOVERNMENT

Names

Digraph

WQ

Type

Unincorporated territory of the U.S. administered by the U.S. Army and Strategic Defense Command since 1 October 1994

Capital

None; administered from Washington, DC

Independence

None (territory of the U.S.)

Flag

The U.S. flag is used

ECONOMY

Overview

Economic activity is limited to providing services to U.S. military personnel and contractors located on the island. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.

Electricity

Supplied by U.S. military

TRANSPORTATION

Railroads

0 km

Ports

None; two offshore anchorages for large ships

Merchant Marine

None

Airports

Note: Formerly an important commercial aviation base, now used by U.S. military, some commercial cargo planes, as well as the U.S. Army Space and Strategic Defense Command for missile launches

COMMUNICATIONS

Telephone System

NA telephones; satellite communications; 1 Autovon circuit off the Overseas Telephone System (OTS)

Radio

Television

Note: Armed Forces Radio/Television Service (AFRTS) radio and television service provided by satellite

DEFENSE FORCES

Note: Defense is the responsibility of the U.S.

History
World Atlas

Last updated: 12 november 1997