Background: Discovered by the US early in the 19th century the island was officially claimed by the US in 1857. Both US and British companies mined for guano until about 1890. Earhart Light is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast that was partially destroyed during World War II but has since been rebuilt; it is named in memory of famed aviatrix Amelia EARHART. The island is administered by the US Department of the Interior as a National Wildlife Refuge.

Geographic coordinates: 0 48 N, 176 38 W

Map reference: Oceania

Area
Total: 1.6 km²
Land: 1.6 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: about three times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 6.4 km

Maritime claims
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun

Terrain: low-lying, nearly level, sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef; depressed central area

Elevation
Extremes lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Extremes highest point: unnamed location 3 m

Natural resources: guano (deposits worked until late 1800s)

Land use
Arable land: 0%
Permanent crops: 0%
Permanent pastures: 0%
Forests and woodland: 5%
Other: 95%

Irrigated land: 0 km² (1998)

Natural hazards: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard

Geography
Note: almost totally covered with grasses, prostrate vines, and low-growing shrubs; small area of trees in the center; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife

Population: uninhabited
Note: American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air and naval attacks during World War II; occupied by US military during World War II, but abandoned after the war; 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

Environment
Current issues: no natural fresh water resources
International agreements party to: NA
International agreements signed but not ratified: NA

Country name
Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Howland Island

Legal system: NA

Flag description: the flag of the US is used

Economy overview: no economic activity

Airports: airstrip constructed in 1937 for scheduled refueling stop on the round-the-world flight of Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan_they left Lae, New Guinea, for Howland Island, but were never seen again; the airstrip is no longer serviceable

Disputes international: none