The World Factbook (1990)/Johnston Atoll
Johnston Atoll (territory of the US)
_Johnston_Atoll.jpg)
See regional map X
Geography
Total area: 2.8 km²; land area: 2.8 km²
Comparative area: about 4.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries: none
Coastline: 10 km
Maritime claims:
- Contiguous zone: 12 nm
- Continental shelf: 200 m
- Extended economic zone: 200 nm
- Territorial sea: 12 nm
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: 0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 0% meadows and pastures; 0% forest and woodland; 100% other
Environment: some low-growing vegetation
Note: strategic location 1,328 km west-southwest of Honolulu in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-third of the way between Hawaii and the Marshall Islands; 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
People
Population: 1,203 (December 1989); all
US government personnel and contractors
Government
Long-form name: none (territory of the
US)
Type: unincorporated 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
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.
Communications
Ports: Johnston Island
Airports: 1 with permanent-surface runway 2,743 m
Telecommunications: excellent system including 60-channel submarine cable, Autodin, SRT terminal, digital telephone switch. Military Affiliated Radio System (MARS station), and a (receive only) commercial satellite television system
Note: US Coast Guard operates a LORAN transmitting station
Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of the
US