Location Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia

Geographic coordinates 0 48 N, 176 38 W

Map references Oceania

Area
total: 1.6 sq km
land: 1.6 sq km
water: 0 sq km

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

Land boundaries 0 km

Coastline 6.4 km

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

Climate equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun

Terrain low-lying, nearly level, sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef; depressed central area

Elevation extremes
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 3 m

Natural resources guano (deposits worked until late 1800s)

Land use
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 5%
other: 95%

Irrigated land 0 sq km (1993)

Natural hazards the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard

Environment - current issues no natural fresh water resources

Environment - international agreements
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA

Geography - note almost totally covered with grasses, prostrate vines, and low-growing shrubs; small area of trees in the center; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife; feral cats

NOTE: The information regarding Howland Island on this page is re-published from the 1998 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Howland Island Geography 1998 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Howland Island Geography 1998 should be addressed to the CIA.