The DICT Development Group
1 definition found
for Johnston Atoll
From CIA World Factbook 2002 :
Johnston Atoll
Introduction Johnston Atoll
---------------------------
Background: 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: 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: 16 45 N, 169 31 W
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 2.8 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 2.8 sq km
Area - comparative: about 4.7 times the size of The Mall
in Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 34 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate: tropical, but generally dry;
consistent northeast trade winds
with little seasonal temperature
variation
Terrain: mostly flat
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Summit Peak 5 m
Natural resources: guano deposits worked until
depletion about 1890, terrestrial
and aquatic wildlife
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: no natural fresh water resources
Geography - note: 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;
egg-shaped reef is 34 km in
circumference; closed to the public;
former US nuclear weapons test site;
site of Johnston Atoll Chemical
Agent Disposal System (JACADS); some
lowgrowing vegetation
People Johnston Atoll
---------------------
Population: no indigenous inhabitants
note: in previous years, there was
an average of 1,100 US military and
civilian contractor personnel
present; as of 1 September 2001,
population had decreased
significantly when US Army Chemical
Activity Pacific (USACAP) departed
(July 2002 est.)
Population growth rate: NA%
Government Johnston Atoll
-------------------------
Country name: conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Johnston
Atoll
Dependency status: unincorporated territory of the US;
administered from Honolulu, HI, by
Pacific Air Forces, Hickam AFB, and
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 Johnston Atoll
----------------------
Economy - overview: 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: approximately 1million kWh weekly;
note - there are six 25,000 kWh
generators operated by the base
operating support contractor (1999)
Electricity - consumption: NA kWh
Communications Johnston Atoll
-----------------------------
Telephone system: general assessment: 13 outgoing and
10 incoming commercial lines;
adequate telecommunications
domestic: 60-channel submarine cable
(broken in January 2002), 22 DSN
circuits by satellite, Autodin with
standard remote terminal, digital
telephone switch, Military
Affiliated Radio System (MARS
station), UHF/VHF air-ground radio,
a link to the Pacific Consolidated
Telecommunications Network (PCTN)
satellite
international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
Television broadcast stations: commercial satellite television
system, with 16 channels (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
Transportation Johnston Atoll
-----------------------------
Waterways: none
Ports and harbors: Johnston Island
Airports: 1 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2001)
Military Johnston Atoll
-----------------------
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the
US
Transnational Issues Johnston Atoll
-----------------------------------
Disputes - international: none
Contact=webmaster@dict.org Specification=RFC 2229