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Jarvis Island:
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Other pages in this profile of Jarvis Island:
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.
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Background |
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. |
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Location |
Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and the Cook Islands |
Geographic coordinates |
0 22 S, 160 01 W |
Map references |
Oceania |
Area |
total: 4.5 sq km land: 4.5 sq km water: 0 sq km |
Area - comparative |
about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC |
Land boundaries |
0 km |
Coastline |
8 km |
Maritime claims |
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
Climate |
tropical; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun |
Terrain |
sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef |
Elevation extremes |
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 7 m |
Natural resources |
guano (deposits worked until late 1800s), terrestrial and aquatic wildlife |
Land use |
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005) |
Irrigated land |
0 sq km |
Natural hazards |
the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island poses a maritime hazard |
Environment - current issues |
no natural fresh water resources |
Geography - note |
sparse bunch grass, prostrate vines, and low-growing shrubs; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife |
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Copyright 2008 World Sites Atlas (sitesatlas.com) |