Government of Baker Island
Baker Island is an atoll in the North Pacific Ocean (Oceania), about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia.
Its defense is the responsibility of the United States; though uninhabited, it is visited annually by the US Coast Guard.
History
The United States of America took possession of the island in 1857, and its guano deposits were mined by US and British companies during the second half of the 19th century. In 1935, a short-lived attempt at colonization was begun on this island - as well as on nearby Howland Island - but was disrupted by World War II and thereafter abandoned. Presently the island is a National Wildlife Refuge run by the US Department of the Interior; a day beacon is situated near the middle of the west coast.
See also the History of the Pacific Islands.
Geography
Population:
uninhabited
note:
American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air and naval attacks during World War II; occupied by US military during World War II, but abandoned after the war; public entry is by special-use permit from US Fish and Wildlife Service only and generally restricted to scientists and educators; a cemetery and remnants of structures from early settlement are located near the middle of the west coast; visited annually by US Fish and Wildlife Service (July 2000 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Baker Island
Data code:
FQ
Dependency status:
unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington, DC, by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service of the United States Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system.
Legal system:
NA
Flag description:
the flag of the US is used
Transportation
Ports and harbors:
none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one boat landing area along the middle of the west coast
Airports:
1 abandoned World War II runway of 1,665 m, completely covered with vegetation and unusable
Transportation - note:
there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast
Based on the CIA World Factbook 2000. Update as needed.
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