]! ^! The US took possession of the island in 1857, and its guano deposits were mined by US and British companies during the second half of the 19th century. In 1935, a short-lived attempt at colonization was begun on this island - as well as on nearby Howland Island - but was disrupted by World War II and thereafter abandoned. Presently the island is a National Wildlife Refuge run by the US Department of the Interior; a day beacon is situated near the middle of the west coast. 
]" ^" Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and Australia ^# 0 13 N, 176 31 W ^$ Oceania ^% `! 1.4 sq km `" 1.4 sq km `# 0 sq km ^& about 2.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC ^' 0 km ^( 4.8 km ^) `$ 12 nm `I 200 nm ^* equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun ^+ low, nearly level coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef ^, `% Pacific Ocean 0 m `& unnamed location 8 m ^- guano (deposits worked until 1891), terrestrial and aquatic wildlife ^. `' 0% `( 0% `) 100% (2001) ^/ 0 sq km (1998 est.) ^0 the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard ^1 no natural fresh water resources ^2 treeless, sparse, and scattered vegetation consisting of grasses, prostrate vines, and low growing shrubs; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife 
]# ^3 uninhabited note: 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; a cemetery and remnants of structures from early settlement are located near the middle of the west coast; visited annually by US Fish and Wildlife Service (2005 est.) 
]$ ^F `4 none `5 Baker Island ^G 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 ^N the laws of the US, where applicable, apply ^X the flag of the US is used 
]% ^Y no economic activity 
]' _C none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one small boat landing area along the middle of the west coast _D 1 abandoned World War II runway of 1,665 m, completely covered with vegetation and unusable (2004 est.) _h there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast 
]( _G defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast Guard 
]) _H none 