| Midway Islands (territory of the US) |
Introduction Geography People Government Economy Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Midway Islands | Introduction | Top of Page

Background: | The US took formal possession of the islands in 1867. The laying of the trans-Pacific cable, which passed through the islands, brought the first residents in 1903. Between 1935 and 1947, Midway was used as a refueling stop for trans-Pacific flights. The US naval victory over a Japanese fleet off Midway in 1942 was one of the turning points of World War II. The islands continued to serve as a naval station until closed in 1993. Today the islands are a wildlife refuge open to the public.

Midway Islands | Geography | Top of Page

Location: | Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-third of the way from Honolulu to Tokyo

Geographic coordinates: | 28 13 N, 177 22 W

Map references: | Oceania

Area: | total: 6.2 sq km land: 6.2 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Eastern Island, Sand Island, and Spit Island

Area - comparative: | about nine times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries: | 0 km

Coastline: | 15 km

Maritime claims: | exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM

Climate: | subtropical, but moderated by prevailing easterly winds

Terrain: | low, nearly level

Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 13 m

Natural resources: | wildlife, terrestrial and aquatic

Land use: | arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100%

Irrigated land: | 0 sq km (1998)

Natural hazards: | NA

Environment - current issues: | NA

Geography - note: | a coral atoll managed as a national wildlife refuge and open to the public for wildlife-related recreation in the form of wildlife observation and photography, sport fishing, snorkeling, and scuba diving

Midway Islands | People | Top of Page

Population: | no indigenous inhabitants; approximately 150 people make up the staff of US Fish and Wildlife Service and their services cooperator living at the atoll (July 2001 est.)

Midway Islands | Government | Top of Page

Country name: | conventional long form: none conventional short form: Midway Islands

Dependency status: | unincorporated territory of the US; formerly administered from Washington, DC, by the US Navy, under Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific Division; this facility has been operationally closed since 10 September 1993; on 31 October 1996, through a presidential executive order, the jurisdiction and control of the atoll was transferred to the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system

Legal system: | the laws of the US, where applicable, apply

Flag description: | the flag of the US is used

Midway Islands | Economy | Top of Page

Economy - overview: | The economy is based on providing support services for the national wildlife refuge activities located on the islands. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.

Midway Islands | Transportation | Top of Page

Highways: | total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km

Waterways: | none

Pipelines: | 7.8 km

Ports and harbors: | Sand Island

Airports: | 3 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways: | total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2000 est.)

Midway Islands | Military | Top of Page

Military - note: | defense is the responsibility of the US

Midway Islands | Transnational Issues | Top of Page

Disputes - international: | none