Page last updated on November 17,

Location:
Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to the Northern Mariana Islands

Geographic coordinates:
19 17 N, 166 39 E

Map references:
Oceania

Area:
total: 6.5 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
country comparison to the world: 242
land: 6.5 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 0 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]

Area - comparative:
about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
0 km
[see also: Land boundaries country ranks ]

Coastline:
19.3 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:
tropical

Terrain:
atoll of three low coral islands, Peale, Wake, and Wilkes, built up on an underwater volcano; central lagoon is former crater, islands are part of the rim

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
[see also: Elevation extremes - lowest point country ranks ]
highest point: unnamed location 6 m
[see also: Elevation extremes - highest point country ranks ]

Natural resources:
none

Land use:
arable land: 0%
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 0%
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
other: 100% (2005)
[see also: Land use - other country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
0 sq km
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Natural hazards:
occasional typhoons

Environment - current issues:
NA

Geography - note:
strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean; emergency landing location for transpacific flights