NAVIGATION
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NAVIGATION
Jarvis Island
INTRODUCTION
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Background:
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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; a day beacon is situated near the middle of the west coast. |
GEOGRAPHY
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Location:
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Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and the Cook Islands |
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Geographic coordinates:
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0 22 S, 160 03 W |
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Map references:
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Oceania |
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Area:
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total: 4.5 sq km
water: 0 sq km land: 4.5 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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about eight 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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8 km |
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Maritime claims:
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exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
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Climate:
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tropical; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun |
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Terrain:
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sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 7 m |
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Natural resources:
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guano (deposits worked until late 1800s), terrestrial and aquatic wildlife |
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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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the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island poses a maritime hazard |
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Environment - current issues:
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no natural fresh water resources |
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Geography - note:
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sparse bunch grass, prostrate vines, and low-growing shrubs; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife |
PEOPLE
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Population:
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uninhabited
note: Millersville settlement on western side of island occasionally used as a weather station from 1935 until World War II, when it was abandoned; reoccupied in 1957 during the International Geophysical Year by scientists who left in 1958; public entry is by special-use permit from US Fish and Wildlife Service only and generally restricted to scientists and educators; visited annually by US Fish and Wildlife Service (July 2002 est.) |