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Location:
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Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean 717 NM (1328 km) southwest of Honolulu, Hawaii, about one-third of the way from Hawaii to the Marshall Islands
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Geographic coordinates:
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16 45 N, 169 31 W
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Map references:
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Oceania
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Area:
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total: 2.8 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 2.8 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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about 4.7 times the size of The 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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34 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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tropical, but generally dry; consistent northeast trade winds with little seasonal temperature variation
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Terrain:
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mostly flat
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Summit Peak 5 m
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Natural resources:
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guano deposits worked until depletion about 1890, terrestrial and aquatic wildlife
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Land use:
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arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (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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no natural fresh water resources
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Geography - note:
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strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean; Johnston Island and Sand Island are natural islands, which have been expanded by coral dredging; North Island (Akau) and East Island (Hikina) are manmade islands formed from coral dredging; the egg-shaped reef is 34 km in circumference; closed to the public; a former US nuclear weapons test site; site of Johnston Atoll Chemical Agent Disposal System (JACADS); some low-growing vegetation
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