The Kingdom of Hawaii claimed the atoll in 1862, and the US included it among the Hawaiian Islands when it annexed the archipelago in 1898. The Hawaii Statehood Act of 1959 did not include Palmyra Atoll, which is now part privately owned by the Nature Conservancy and part US Government-owned and administered as a nature preserve. The lagoons and surrounding waters within the 12-nautical-mile US territorial seas were transferred to the US Fish and Wildlife Service and were designated a National Wildlife Refuge in January 2001.

Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and American Samoa

5 52 N, 162 04 W

Oceania

about 20 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

equatorial, hot, and very rainy

very lowlying atoll consists of an extensive reef, two shallow lagoons, and about 50 islets and bars covered with vegetation

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

highest point: unnamed location on Sand Island 10 m

terrestrial and aquatic wildlife

an extensive surrounding reef is only penetrated by a single western channel

a few of the islets are designated Unexploded Ordnance Areas, a legacy of US Navy occupation (1934-59), and are closed to entry; invasive plants and insects compete with native biota

about 50 islets covered with dense vegetation, coconut trees, and balsa-like trees up to 30 meters tall

conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Palmyra Atoll

etymology: named for the USS Palmyra, which was shipwrecked on the reef in 1802

incorporated territory of the US; privately owned but administered from Washington, DC, by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior; the Office of Insular Affairs of the US Department of the Interior continues to administer nine excluded areas comprising certain tidal and submerged lands within the 12 nm territorial sea limit or within the lagoon

the laws of the US apply where applicable

the flag of the US is used

defense is the responsibility of the US

none