{"name": "Howland Island", "code": "HQ", "publish_date": "December 17, 2018", "html": "<div class='wfb-text-box'><div class=\"region1 geos_title aus_dark\"><strong>Australia - Oceania ::Howland Island</strong></div><ul class='expandcollapse'><li id='introduction-category-section-anchor'><div class='question aus_med' sectiontitle='Introduction'ccode='hq'>Introduction ::<span class='region'>Howland Island</span></div></li><li id='introduction-category-section'><div class=\"category aus_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-introduction-background\">Background:</div><div id=\"field-background\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>Discovered by the US early in the 19th century, the island was officially claimed by the US in 1857. Both US and British companies mined for guano until about 1890. Earhart Light, a day beacon near the middle of the west coast, was partially destroyed during World War II, but subsequently rebuilt; it is named in memory of the famed aviatrix Amelia EARHART. The island is administered by the US Department of the Interior as a National Wildlife Refuge.</div></div></li><li id='geography-category-section-anchor'><div class='question aus_med' sectiontitle='Geography'ccode='hq'>Geography ::<span class='region'>Howland Island</span></div></li><li id='geography-category-section'><div class=\"category aus_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-geography-location\">Location:</div><div id=\"field-location\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and Australia</div></div><div class=\"category aus_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-geography-geographic-coordinates\">Geographic coordinates:</div><div id=\"field-geographic-coordinates\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>0 48 N, 176 38 W</div></div><div class=\"category aus_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-geography-map-references\">Map references:</div><div id=\"field-map-references\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>Oceania</div></div><div class=\"category aus_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-geography-area\">Area:</div><div id=\"field-area\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">total:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">1.6 sq km</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">land:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">1.6 sq km</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">water:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">0 sq km</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>256</span></div></div><div class=\"category aus_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-geography-area-comparative\">Area - comparative:</div><div id=\"field-area-comparative\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>about three times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC</div></div><div class=\"category aus_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-geography-land-boundaries\">Land boundaries:</div><div id=\"field-land-boundaries\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">0 km</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span></div></div><div class=\"category aus_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-geography-coastline\">Coastline:</div><div id=\"field-coastline\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">6.4 km</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span></div></div><div class=\"category aus_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-geography-maritime-claims\">Maritime claims:</div><div id=\"field-maritime-claims\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">territorial sea:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">12</span><span class=\"subfield-note\">nm</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">exclusive economic zone:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">200</span><span class=\"subfield-note\">nm</span></div></div><div class=\"category aus_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-geography-climate\">Climate:</div><div id=\"field-climate\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun</div></div><div class=\"category aus_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-geography-terrain\">Terrain:</div><div id=\"field-terrain\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>low-lying, nearly level, sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef; depressed central area</div></div><div class=\"category aus_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-geography-natural-resources\">Natural resources:</div><div id=\"field-natural-resources\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>guano (deposits worked until late 1800s), terrestrial and aquatic wildlife</div></div><div class=\"category aus_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-geography-natural-hazards\">Natural hazards:</div><div id=\"field-natural-hazards\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard</div></div><div class=\"category aus_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-geography-environment-current-issues\">Environment - current issues:</div><div id=\"field-environment-current-issues\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>no natural fresh water resources</div></div><div class=\"category aus_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-geography-geography-note\">Geography - note:</div><div id=\"field-geography-note\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>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</div></div></li><li id='people-and-society-category-section-anchor'><div class='question aus_med' sectiontitle='People and Society'ccode='hq'>People and Society ::<span class='region'>Howland Island</span></div></li><li id='people-and-society-category-section'><div class=\"category aus_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-people-and-society-population\">Population:</div><div id=\"field-population\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-note\">uninhabited</span></div><div class=\"category_data note\"><p><strong>note:</strong> American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air and naval attacks during World War II; occupied by US military during World War II but abandoned after the war; public entry is by special-use permit from US Fish and Wildlife Service only and generally restricted to scientists and educators; visited annually by US Fish and Wildlife Service</p></div></div></li><li id='government-category-section-anchor'><div class='question aus_med' sectiontitle='Government'ccode='hq'>Government ::<span class='region'>Howland Island</span></div></li><li id='government-category-section'><div class=\"category aus_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-government-country-name\">Country name:</div><div id=\"field-country-name\"><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">conventional long form:</span>none</div><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">conventional short form:</span>Howland Island</div><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">etymology:</span>named after the lookout on a whaling vessel who spotted the island in 1842</div></div><div class=\"category aus_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-government-dependency-status\">Dependency status:</div><div id=\"field-dependency-status\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington, DC, by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System</div></div><div class=\"category aus_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-government-legal-system\">Legal system:</div><div id=\"field-legal-system\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>the laws of the US, where applicable, apply</div></div><div class=\"category aus_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-government-flag-description\">Flag description:</div><div id=\"field-flag-description\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>the flag of the US is used</div></div></li><li id='transportation-category-section-anchor'><div class='question aus_med' sectiontitle='Transportation'ccode='hq'>Transportation ::<span class='region'>Howland Island</span></div></li><li id='transportation-category-section'><div class=\"category aus_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-transportation-ports-and-terminals\">Ports and terminals:</div><div id=\"field-ports-and-terminals\"><div class=\"category_data note\">none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one small boat landing area along the middle of the west coast</div></div><div class=\"category aus_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-transportation-transportation-note\">Transportation - note:</div><div id=\"field-transportation-note\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>Earhart Light, a day beacon near the middle of the west coast, was partially destroyed during World War II but rebuilt during the 1960s; today it is crumbling and in poor repair; named in memory of famed aviatrix Amelia EARHART</div></div></li><li id='military-and-security-category-section-anchor'><div class='question aus_med' sectiontitle='Military and Security'ccode='hq'>Military and Security ::<span class='region'>Howland Island</span></div></li><li id='military-and-security-category-section'><div class=\"category aus_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-military-and-security-military-note\">Military - note:</div><div id=\"field-military-note\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast Guard</div></div></li><li id='transnational-issues-category-section-anchor'><div class='question aus_med' sectiontitle='Transnational Issues'ccode='hq'>Transnational Issues ::<span class='region'>Howland Island</span></div></li><li id='transnational-issues-category-section'><div class=\"category aus_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-transnational-issues-disputes-international\">Disputes - international:</div><div id=\"field-disputes-international\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>none</div></div></li></ul></div>"}