Wordnet 3.0
NOUN (1)
1.
an atoll in the Hawaiian Islands some 1300 miles to the northwest of Honolulu;
site of an important United States naval base;
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
Midway Islands
n 1: an atoll in the Hawaiian Islands some 1300 miles to the
northwest of Honolulu; site of an important United States
naval base
CIA World Factbook 2002:
Midway Islands
Introduction Midway Islands
---------------------------
Background: The US took formal possession of the
islands in 1867. The laying of the
trans-Pacific cable, which passed
through the islands, brought the
first residents in 1903. Between
1935 and 1947, Midway was used as a
refueling stop for trans-Pacific
flights. The US naval victory over a
Japanese fleet off Midway in 1942
was one of the turning points of
World War II. The islands continued
to serve as a naval station until
closed in 1993. Today the islands
are a national wildlife refuge. From
1996 to 2001 the refuge was open to
the public. It is now temporarily
closed.
Geography Midway Islands
------------------------
Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific
Ocean, about one-third of the way
from Honolulu to Tokyo
Geographic coordinates: 28 13 N, 177 22 W
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 6.2 sq km
note: includes Eastern Island, Sand
Island, and Spit Island
water: 0 sq km
land: 6.2 sq km
Area - comparative: about nine times the size of The
Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 15 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate: subtropical, but moderated by
prevailing easterly winds
Terrain: low, nearly level
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 13 m
Natural resources: wildlife, terrestrial and aquatic
Land use: arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: NA
Geography - note: a coral atoll managed as a national
wildlife refuge and open to the
public for wildlife-related
recreation in the form of wildlife
observation and photography, sport
fishing, snorkeling, and scuba
diving; the refuge is temporarily
closed for reorganization at present
(2002)
People Midway Islands
---------------------
Population: no indigenous inhabitants;
approximately 40 people make up the
staff of US Fish and Wildlife
Service and their services
cooperator living at the atoll
(April 2002 est.)
Population growth rate: NA
Government Midway Islands
-------------------------
Country name: conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Midway
Islands
Dependency status: unincorporated territory of the US;
formerly administered from
Washington, DC, by the US Navy,
under Naval Facilities Engineering
Command, Pacific Division; this
facility has been operationally
closed since 10 September 1993; on
31 October 1996, through a
presidential executive order, the
jurisdiction and control of the
atoll was transferred to the Fish
and Wildlife Service of the US
Department of the Interior as part
of the National Wildlife Refuge
system
Legal system: the laws of the US, where
applicable, apply
Flag description: the flag of the US is used
Economy Midway Islands
----------------------
Economy - overview: The economy is based on providing
support services for the national
wildlife refuge activities located
on the islands. All food and
manufactured goods must be imported.
Transportation Midway Islands
-----------------------------
Highways: total: NA km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
Waterways: none
Pipelines: 7.8 km
Ports and harbors: Sand Island
Airports: 3 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2001)
Military Midway Islands
-----------------------
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the
US
Transnational Issues Midway Islands
-----------------------------------
Disputes - international: none