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

Palmyra Atoll | Introduction | Top of Page

Background: | The Kingdom of Hawaii claimed the atoll in 1862, and the US included it among the Hawaiian Islands when it annexed the archipelago in 1898. The Hawaii Statehood Act of 1959 did not include Palmyra Atoll, which is now privately owned by the Nature Conservancy. This organization is managing the atoll as a nature preserve. The lagoons and surrounding waters within the 12 nautical mile US territorial seas were transferred to the US Fish and Wildlife service and designated a National Wildlife Refuge in January 2001.

Palmyra Atoll | Geography | Top of Page

Location: | Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to American Samoa

Geographic coordinates: | 5 52 N, 162 06 W

Map references: | Oceania

Area: | total: 11.9 sq km land: 11.9 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative: | about 20 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries: | 0 km

Coastline: | 14.5 km

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

Climate: | equatorial, hot, and very rainy

Terrain: | very low

Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 2 m

Natural resources: | terrestrial and aquatic wildlife

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

Irrigated land: | 0 sq km (1993)

Natural hazards: | NA

Environment - current issues: | NA

Geography - note: | about 50 islets covered with dense vegetation, coconut trees, and balsa-like trees up to 30 meters tall

Palmyra Atoll | People | Top of Page

Population: | no indigenous inhabitants; 4 to 20 Nature Conservancy staff, US Fish and Wildlife staff (July 2001 est.)

Palmyra Atoll | Government | Top of Page

Country name: | conventional long form: none conventional short form: Palmyra Atoll

Dependency status: | incorporated territory of the US; privately owned, but administered from Washington, DC, by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior

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

Flag description: | the flag of the US is used

Palmyra Atoll | Economy | Top of Page

Economy - overview: | no economic activity

Palmyra Atoll | Transportation | Top of Page

Highways: | much of the road and many causeways built during World War II are unserviceable and overgrown (2001)

Waterways: | none

Ports and harbors: | West Lagoon

Airports: | 1 (2000 est.)

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

Palmyra Atoll | Military | Top of Page

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

Palmyra Atoll | Transnational Issues | Top of Page

Disputes - international: | none