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Palmyra Atoll:
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Background |
Definition 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 were designated a National Wildlife Refuge in January 2001. |
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Location |
Definition Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and American Samoa |
Geographic coordinates |
Definition 5 52 N, 162 04 W |
Map references |
Definition Oceania |
Area |
Definition total: 11.9 sq km land: 11.9 sq km water: 0 sq km |
Area - comparative |
Definition about 20 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC |
Land boundaries |
Definition 0 km |
Coastline |
Definition 14.5 km |
Maritime claims |
Definition territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
Climate |
Definition equatorial, hot, and very rainy |
Terrain |
Definition very low |
Elevation extremes |
Definition lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 2 m |
Natural resources |
Definition terrestrial and aquatic wildlife |
Land use |
Definition arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (forests and woodlands) (2005) |
Natural hazards |
Definition NA |
Environment - current issues |
Definition NA |
Geography - note |
Definition about 50 islets covered with dense vegetation, coconut trees, and balsa-like trees up to 30 meters tall |
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Copyright 2008 World Sites Atlas (sitesatlas.com) |