Jarvis Island:
Geography

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Background	Definition First discovered by the British in 1821, the uninhabited island was annexed by the US in 1858, but abandoned in 1879 after tons of guano had been removed. The UK annexed the island in 1889, but never carried out plans for further exploitation. The US occupied and reclaimed the island in 1935. Abandoned after World War II, the island is currently a National Wildlife Refuge administered by the US Department of the Interior.

Location	Definition Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and the Cook Islands
Geographic coordinates	Definition 0 22 S, 160 01 W
Map references	Definition Oceania
Area	Definition total: 4.5 sq km land: 4.5 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative	Definition about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries	Definition 0 km
Coastline	Definition 8 km
Maritime claims	Definition territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate	Definition tropical; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
Terrain	Definition sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef
Elevation extremes	Definition lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 7 m
Natural resources	Definition guano (deposits worked until late 1800s), terrestrial and aquatic wildlife
Land use	Definition arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005)
Irrigated land	Definition 0 sq km
Natural hazards	Definition the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island poses a maritime hazard
Environment - current issues	Definition no natural fresh water resources
Geography - note	Definition sparse bunch grass, prostrate vines, and low-growing shrubs; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife

Jarvis Island: Geography

Jarvis Island:
Geography