Navassa Island
Introduction Geography People Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues
Introduction	Back To Top
Background: This uninhabited island was claimed by the US in 1857 for its guano. Mining took place between 1865 and 1898. The lighthouse, built in 1917, was shut down in 1996 and administration of Navassa Island transferred from the Coast Guard to the Department of the Interior. A 1998 scientific expedition to the island described it as a unique preserve of Caribbean biodiversity; the following year it became a National Wildlife Refuge and annual scientific expeditions have continued.
Geography	Back To Top
Land boundaries: 0 km Climate: marine, tropical Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Geographic coordinates: 18 25 N, 75 02 W Natural resources: guano Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: unnamed location on southwest side 77 m Terrain: raised coral and limestone plateau, flat to undulating; ringed by vertical white cliffs (9 to 15 m high) Geography - note: strategic location 160 km south of the US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; mostly exposed rock with numerous solution holes but with enough grassland to support goat herds; dense stands of fig trees, scattered cactus Area: total: 5.4 sq km land: 5.4 sq km water: 0 sq km Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, 35 miles west of Tiburon Peninsula of Haiti Coastline: 8 km Area - comparative: about nine times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC Environment - current issues: NA Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Natural hazards: hurricanes Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005)
People	Back To Top
Population: uninhabited note: transient Haitian fishermen and others camp on the island
Government	Back To Top
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of the US) Dependency status: unorganized, unincorporated territory of the US; administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service, US Department of the Interior, from the Caribbean Islands National Wildlife Refuge in Boqueron, Puerto Rico; in September 1996, the Coast Guard ceased operations and maintenance of Navassa Island Light, a 46-meter-tall lighthouse on the southern side of the island; there has also been a private claim advanced against the island Legal system: the laws of the US, where applicable, apply Flag description: the flag of the US is used Country name (Goverment): conventional long form: none conventional short form: Navassa Island
Economy	Back To Top
Economy - overview: Subsistence fishing and commercial trawling occur within refuge waters.
Communications	Back To Top
Transportation	Back To Top
Ports and terminals: none; offshore anchorage only
Military	Back To Top
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues	Back To Top
Disputes - international: claimed by Haiti, source of subsistence fishing

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