Jarvis Island etymology Population: uninhabited
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| History | |
| First discovered by the British in 1821, the uninhabited island was annexed by the US in 1858 but abandoned in 1879 after tons of guano deposits had been removed for use in producing fertilizer. The UK annexed the island in 1889 but never carried out plans for further exploitation. The US occupied and reclaimed the island in 1935. Abandoned after World War II, the island is currently a National Wildlife Refuge administered by the US Department of the Interior. |
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| Geography | |
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| Location: | Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and the Cook Islands |
| Geographic coordinates: | 0 22 S, 160 01 W |
| Area: | total: 4.5 sq km land: 4.5 sq km water: 0 sq km Size comparison: about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC |
| Land Boundaries: | 0 km |
| Coastline: | 8 km |
| Maritime claims: | territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
| Climate: | tropical; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun |
| Terrain: | sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef |
| Natural resources: | guano (deposits worked until late 1800s), terrestrial and aquatic wildlife |
| Natural hazards: | the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island poses a maritime hazard |
| Current Environment Issues: | no natural fresh water resources |
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| Population: | uninhabited note: Millersville settlement on western side of island occasionally used as a weather station from 1935 until World War II, when it was abandoned; reoccupied in 1957 during the International Geophysical Year by scientists who left in 1958; 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 |
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| Government | |
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| Country name: | conventional long form: none conventional short form: Jarvis Island etymology: named after three brothers JARVIS, the owners of the British ship from which the island was discovered in 1821 |
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| Legal system: | the laws of the US apply where applicable |
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| Ports and terminals: | none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one small boat landing area in the middle of the west coast and another near the southwest corner of the island |
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| Defense is the responsibility of the US; visited periodically by the US Coast Guard | |
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| Disputes - International: | none |
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Source: CIA - The World Factbook