Kingman Reef: Background & Geography

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 around the reef 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 24 W
Map references:
 Oceania
Area:
 total: 1 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 1 sq km
Area - comparative:
 about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
 0 km
Coastline:
 3 km
Maritime claims - as described in UNCLOS 1982 (see Notes and Definitions):
 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
Land use:
 arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
 0 sq km (1998 est.)
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

See Also: