Midway Islands

(territory of the US)

Geography

Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-third of the way from Honolulu to Tokyo

Map references: Oceania

Area:
total area: 5.2 sq km
land area: 5.2 sq km
comparative area: about 9 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
note: includes Eastern Island and Sand Island

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 15 km

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

International disputes: none

Climate: tropical, but moderated by prevailing easterly winds

Terrain: low, nearly level

Natural resources: fish, wildlife

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: NA
natural hazards: NA
international agreements: NA

Note: a coral atoll; closed to the public

People

Population: no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are 453 US military personnel (July 1995 est.)

Government

Names:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Midway Islands

Digraph: MQ

Type: unincorporated territory of the US administered by the US Navy, under Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific Division; this facility has been operationally closed since 10 September 1993 and is currently being transferred from Pacific Fleet to Naval Facilities Engineering Command via a Memorandum of Understanding

Capital: none; administered from Washington, DC

Flag: the US flag is used

Economy

Overview: The economy is based on providing support services for US naval operations located on the islands. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.

Electricity: supplied by US Military

Transportation

Railroads: 0 km

Highways:
total: 32 km
paved: NA

Pipelines: 7.8 km

Ports: Sand Island

Airports:
total: 3
with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1

Communications

Telephone system:
local: NA
intercity: NA
international: NA

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

Television:
broadcast stations: NA
televisions: NA

Defense Forces

Note: defense is the responsibility of the US