Johnston Atoll

(territory of the US)

Geography

Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-third of the way from Hawaii to the Marshall Islands

Map references: Oceania

Area:
total area: 2.8 sq km
land area: 2.8 sq km
comparative area: about 4.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 10 km

Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: none

Climate: tropical, but generally dry; consistent northeast trade winds with little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain: mostly flat with a maximum elevation of 4 meters

Natural resources: guano (deposits worked until about 1890)

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 100%

Irrigated land: 0 sq km

Environment:
current issues: no natural fresh water resources
natural hazards: NA
international agreements: NA

Note: strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean; Johnston Island and Sand Island are natural islands; North Island (Akau) and East Island (Hikina) are manmade islands formed from coral dredging; closed to the public; former nuclear weapons test site; site of Johnston Atoll Chemical Agent Disposal System (JACADS); some low-growing vegetation

People

Population: 327 (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate: 0% (1995 est.)

Birth rate: NA

Death rate: NA

Net migration rate: NA

Infant mortality rate: NA

Life expectancy at birth: NA

Total fertility rate: NA

Government

Names:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Johnston Atoll

Digraph: JQ

Type: unincorportated territory of the US administered by the US Defense Nuclear Agency (DNA) and managed cooperatively by DNA and the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system

Capital: none

Diplomatic representation in US: none (territory of the US)

US diplomatic representation: none (territory of the US)

Flag: the flag of the US is used

Economy

Overview: Economic activity is limited to providing services to US military personnel and contractors located on the island. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.

Electricity: supplied by the management and operations contractor

Transportation

Railroads: 0 km

Highways:
total: NA
paved: NA
unpaved: NA

Ports: Johnston Island

Airports:
total: 1
with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

Communications

Telephone system: NA telephones; excellent system including 60-channel submarine cable, Autodin/SRT terminal, digital telephone switch, Military Affiliated Radio System (MARS station), and UHF/VHF air-ground radio
local: NA
intercity: NA
international: NA

Radio:
broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
radios: NA

Television:
broadcast stations: commercial satellite television system
televisions: NA

Defense Forces

Note: defense is the responsibility of the US