Kingman Reef

Kingman Reef
Southeast part of Kingman Reef, looking north
Kingman Reef is located in Oceania
Kingman Reef
Kingman Reef
Location in Oceania
Kingman Reef is located in Pacific Ocean
Kingman Reef
Kingman Reef
Kingman Reef (Pacific Ocean)
Geography
LocationOceania
Coordinates6°23′N 162°25′W / 6.383°N 162.417°W / 6.383; -162.417
Area0.03[1] km2 (0.012 sq mi)
(Land area – not including the lagoon)
Length17 km (10.6 mi)
Width8 km (5 mi)
Administration
United States

Kingman Reef (/ˈkɪŋmən/) is a largely submerged, uninhabited, triangle-shaped reef, geologically an atoll, 9.0 nmi (20 km) east-west and 4.5 nmi (8 km) north-south,[2] in the North Pacific Ocean, roughly halfway between the Hawaiian Islands and American Samoa.[3][4] It has an area of 3 hectares (0.03 km2; 7.4 acres) and is a unincorporated territory of the United States[5] in Oceania.[5] The reef is administered by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service as the Kingman Reef National Wildlife Refuge. It was claimed by the US in 1859 and later used briefly as a stopover for commercial Pacific flying boat routes in the 1930s going to New Zealand; however, the route was changed with a different stopover. It was administered by the Navy from 1934 to 2000 and thereafter by the Fish and Wildlife Service. It has since become a marine protected area. In the 19th century, it was noted as a maritime hazard, earning the name Hazard Rocks, and is known to have been hit once in 1876. In the 21st century, it has been noted for its marine biodiversity and remote nature. Hundreds of fish and coral species are on and around the reef.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Britannica_Kingman was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference chart was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference CIA was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Coordinates are near the dry land spits.
  5. ^ a b USA, St John's School, Guam (2010). Oceania in the 21st Century - Color. Lulu.com. ISBN 978-0-557-44505-9.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)