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| Get A Large Static Flag | Palmyra Atoll |
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| Introduction | Palmyra Atoll |
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Background:
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Kingdom of Hawaii claimed atoll in 1862, and US included it among Hawaiian Islands when it annexed archipelago in 1898. Hawaii Statehood Act of 1959 did not include Palmyra Atoll, which is now privately owned by Nature Conservancy. This organization is managing atoll as a nature preserve. lagoons and surrounding waters within 12 nautical mile US territorial seas were transferred to US Fish and Wildlife Service and were designated a National Wildlife Refuge in January 2001. |
| Geography | Palmyra Atoll |
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Location:
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Oceania, atoll in North Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and American Samoa |
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Geographic coordinates:
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5 52 N, 162 06 W |
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Map references:
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Oceania |
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Area:
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total: 11.9 sq km
water: 0 sq km land: 11.9 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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about 20 times size of 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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14.5 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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equatorial, hot, and very rainy |
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Terrain:
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very low |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 2 m |
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Natural resources:
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terrestrial and aquatic wildlife |
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Land use:
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arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (forests and woodlands) (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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about 50 islets covered with dense vegetation, coconut trees, and balsa-like trees up to 30 meters tall |
| People | Palmyra Atoll |
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Total Population:
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no indigenous inhabitants; 4 to 20 Nature Conservancy staff, US Fish and Wildlife staff (July 2003 est.) |
| Government | Palmyra Atoll |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Palmyra Atoll |
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Dependency status:
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incorporated territory of US; privately owned, but administered from Washington, DC, by Fish and Wildlife Service of US Department of Interior; Office of Insular Affairs of US Department of Interior continues to administer nine excluded areas comprising certain tidal and submerged lands within 12 NM territorial sea or within lagoon |
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Legal system:
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laws of US, where applicable, apply |
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Flag description:
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flag of US is used |
| Economy | Palmyra Atoll |
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Economy - overview:
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no economic activity |
| Transportation | Palmyra Atoll |
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Highways:
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most of roads and many causeways built during World War II are unserviceable and overgrown (2001) |
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Waterways:
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none |
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Ports and harbors:
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West Lagoon |
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Airports:
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1 (2002) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002) |
| Military | Palmyra Atoll |
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Military - note:
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defense is responsibility of US |
| Transnational Issues | Palmyra Atoll |
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Disputes - international:
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none |