Midway Islands: Background & Geography
| Introduction | Midway Islands |
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Background:
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The US took formal possession of the islands in 1867. The laying of the trans-Pacific cable, which passed through the islands, brought the first residents in 1903. Between 1935 and 1947, Midway was used as a refueling stop for trans-Pacific flights. The US naval victory over a Japanese fleet off Midway in 1942 was one of the turning points of World War II. The islands continued to serve as a naval station until closed in 1993. Today the islands are a national wildlife refuge. From 1996 to 2001 the refuge was open to the public. It is now temporarily closed. |
| Geography | Midway Islands |
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Location:
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Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-third of the way from Honolulu to Tokyo |
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Geographic coordinates:
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28 13 N, 177 22 W |
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Map references:
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Oceania |
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Area:
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total: 6.2 sq km
note: includes Eastern Island, Sand Island, and Spit Island water: 0 sq km land: 6.2 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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about nine times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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15 km |
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Maritime claims - as described in UNCLOS 1982 (see Notes and Definitions):
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territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM |
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Climate:
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subtropical; moderated by prevailing easterly winds |
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Terrain:
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low, nearly level |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 13 m |
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Natural resources:
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wildlife, terrestrial and aquatic |
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Land use:
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arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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0 sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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NA |
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Environment - current issues:
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NA |
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Geography - note:
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a coral atoll managed as a national wildlife refuge and open to the public for wildlife-related recreation in the form of wildlife observation and photography, sport fishing, snorkeling, and scuba diving; the refuge is temporarily closed for reorganization at present (2004) |