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  Johnston Atoll  
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  Introduction
  Geography
  People
  Government
  Economy
  Communications
  Transportation
  Military
  Transnational Issues

In general, information available as of 1 January 2003
was used in the preparation of The World Factbook 2003.


This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003


Map of Johnston Atoll

Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Johnston Atoll
Background:
Definition Field Listing
Both the US and the Kingdom of Hawaii annexed Johnston Atoll in 1858, but it was the US that mined the guano deposits until the late 1880s. The US Navy took over the atoll in 1934, and subsequently the US Air Force assumed control in 1948. The site was used for high-altitude nuclear tests in the 1950s and 1960s, and until late in 2000 the atoll was maintained as a storage and disposal site for chemical weapons. Munitions destruction is now complete. Cleanup and closure of the facility is progressing, with completion anticipated in 2004.
   Geography    Johnston Atoll
Location:
Definition Field Listing
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
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
16 45 N, 169 31 W
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Oceania
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 2.8 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 2.8 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
about 4.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
0 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
34 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
tropical, but generally dry; consistent northeast trade winds with little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
mostly flat
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Summit Peak 5 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
guano deposits worked until depletion about 1890, terrestrial and aquatic wildlife
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
no natural fresh water resources
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
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
   People    Johnston Atoll
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
no indigenous inhabitants
note: in previous years, there was an average of 1,100 US military and civilian contractor personnel present; as of September 2001, population had decreased significantly when US Army Chemical Activity Pacific (USACAP) departed; as of January 2003 the island population was just above 800 personnel, including US Air Force, US Department of Defense civilian, and civilian contractor personnel (January 2003 est.) (July 2003 est.)
   Government    Johnston Atoll
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Johnston Atoll
Dependency status:
Definition Field Listing
unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Honolulu, HI, by Pacific Air Forces, Hickam Air Force Base, and the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
the flag of the US is used
   Economy    Johnston Atoll
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
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.
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
44.2 million kWh; note - approximate annual production; there are six 25,000 kWh generators operated by the base operating support contractor (1999)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.002 million kWh; note - approximate annual consumption
   Communications    Johnston Atoll
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: 33 commercial lines, 15 incoming and 18 outgoing; adequate telecommunications
domestic: 60-channel submarine cable (broken in January 2002), 24 DSN circuits by satellite, Automated Digital Network (AUTODIN) with standard remote terminal, digital telephone switch, Military Affiliated Radio System (MARS) station (scheduled for decommissioning March 2003), UHF/VHF air-ground radio, a link to the Pacific Consolidated Telecommunications Network (PCTN) satellite
international: NA (2002)
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM NA, FM 7 (1 island-run morale, welfare, and recreation station and 6 all-music digital radio stations broadcast over FM band), shortwave NA (2002)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
commercial satellite television system, with 30 channels (2002)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
Definition Field Listing
1 256 KB circuit to US Department of Defense-run Nonsecure Internet Protocol Router Network (NIPRNET) (2002)
   Transportation    Johnston Atoll
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing
none
Ports and harbors:
Definition Field Listing
Johnston Island
Airports:
Definition Field Listing
1 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
   Military    Johnston Atoll
Military - note:
Definition Field Listing
defense is the responsibility of the US
   Transnational Issues    Johnston Atoll
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003


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