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Australia-Oceania :: Kingman Reef (territory of the US)

- ## Introduction :: KINGMAN REEF

- Background:
  The US annexed the reef in 1922. Its sheltered lagoon served as a way station for flying boats on Hawaii-to-American Samoa flights during the late 1930s. There are no terrestrial plants on the reef, which is frequently awash, but it does support abundant and diverse marine fauna and flora. In 2001, the waters surrounding the reef out to 12 nm were designated a US National Wildlife Refuge.

- ## Geography :: KINGMAN REEF

- Location:
  Oceania, reef in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and American Samoa
  Geographic coordinates:
  6 24 N, 162 22 W
  Map references:
  Oceania
  Area:
  total: 1 sq km
  land: 1 sq km
  water: 0 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 256
  Area - comparative:
  about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
  Land boundaries:
  0 km
  Coastline:
  3 km
  Maritime claims:
  territorial sea: 12 nm
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  Climate:
  tropical; moderated by prevailing winds
  Terrain:
  low and nearly level
  Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
  highest point: unnamed location 1 m
  Natural resources:
  terrestrial and aquatic wildlife
  Natural hazards:
  wet or awash most of the time, maximum elevation of about 1 meter makes Kingman Reef a maritime hazard
  Environment - current issues:
  none
  Geography - note:
  barren coral atoll with deep interior lagoon; closed to the public

- ## People and Society :: KINGMAN REEF

- Population:
  uninhabited (July 2007 est.)

- ## Government :: KINGMAN REEF

- Country name:
  conventional long form: none
  conventional short form: Kingman Reef
  Dependency status:
  unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington, DC, by the US Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Interior
  note: on 1 September 2000, the Department of the Interior accepted restoration of its administrative jurisdiction over Kingman Reef from the Department of the Navy; Executive Order 3223 signed 18 January 2001 established Kingman Reef National Wildlife Refuge to be administered by the Director, US Fish and Wildlife Service; this refuge is managed to protect the terrestrial and aquatic wildlife of Kingman Reef out to the 12 nm territorial sea limit
  Legal system:
  the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
  Flag description:
  the flag of the US is used

- ## Transportation :: KINGMAN REEF

- Ports and terminals:
  none; offshore anchorage only

- ## Military :: KINGMAN REEF

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

- ## Transnational Issues :: KINGMAN REEF

- Disputes - international:
  none

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