PALMYRA ATOLL (territory of the US) GEOGRAPHY Total area: 11.9 km2; land area: 11.9 km2 Comparative area: about 20 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC Land boundaries: none Coastline: 14.5 km Maritime claims: Contiguous zone: 12 nm; Continental shelf: 200 m (depth); Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm; Territorial sea: 12 nm Climate: equatorial, hot, and very rainy Terrain: low, with maximum elevations of about 2 meters Natural resources: none Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest and woodland 100%; other 0% Environment: about 50 islets covered with dense vegetation, coconut trees, and balsa-like trees up to 30 meters tall Note: located 1,600 km south-southwest of Honolulu in the North Pacific Ocean, almost halfway between Hawaii and American Samoa PEOPLE Population: uninhabited GOVERNMENT Long-form name: none Type: unincorporated territory of the US; privately owned, but administered by the Office of Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of the Interior ECONOMY Overview: no economic activity COMMUNICATIONS Ports: none; offshore anchorage in West Lagoon Airports: 1 with permanent-surface runway 1,220-2,439 m DEFENSE FORCES Note: defense is the responsibility of the US