Australia - Oceania :: Kingman Reef
  • Introduction :: Kingman Reef
  • Background:
    The US annexed the reef in 1922. Its sheltered lagoon served as a way station for flying boats on Hawaii-to-American Samoa flights during the late 1930s. There are no terrestrial plants on the reef, which is frequently awash, but it does support abundant and diverse marine fauna and flora. In 2001, the waters surrounding the reef out to 12 nm were designated a US National Wildlife Refuge.
  • Geography :: Kingman Reef
  • Location:
    Oceania, reef in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and American Samoa
    Geographic coordinates:
    6 24 N, 162 22 W
    Map references:
    Oceania
    Area:
    total: 1 sq km
    land: 1 sq km
    water: 0 sq km
    country comparison to the world: 257
    Area - comparative:
    about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
    Land boundaries:
    0 km
    Coastline:
    3 km
    Maritime claims:
    territorial sea: 12 nm
    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
    Climate:
    tropical; moderated by prevailing winds
    Terrain:
    low and nearly level
    Natural resources:
    terrestrial and aquatic wildlife
    Natural hazards:
    wet or awash most of the time, maximum elevation of about 1 meter makes Kingman Reef a maritime hazard
    Environment - current issues:
    illegal foreign fishing; marine debris washing up on reef can entangle and kill wildlife
    Geography - note:
    barren coral atoll with deep interior lagoon; closed to the public
  • People and Society :: Kingman Reef
  • Population:
    uninhabited
  • Government :: Kingman Reef
  • Country name:
    conventional long form: none
    conventional short form: Kingman Reef
    etymology: although discovered in 1798, the reef is named after Captain W. E. KINGMAN who described it in 1853
    Dependency status:
    unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington, DC, by the US Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Interior

    note: on 1 September 2000, the Department of the Interior accepted restoration of its administrative jurisdiction over Kingman Reef from the Department of the Navy; Executive Order 3223 signed 18 January 2001 established Kingman Reef National Wildlife Refuge to be administered by the Director, US Fish and Wildlife Service; this refuge is managed to protect the terrestrial and aquatic wildlife of Kingman Reef out to the 12 nm territorial sea limit

    Flag description:
    the flag of the US is used
  • Military and Security :: Kingman Reef
  • Military - note:
    defense is the responsibility of the US
  • Transportation :: Kingman Reef
  • Roadways:
    Ports and terminals:
    none; offshore anchorage only
  • Transnational Issues :: Kingman Reef
  • Disputes - international:

    none