Jarvis Island

Jarvis Island is an uninhabited island in Micronesia, geographically part of the Line Islands. It is an unincorporated, unorganized territory of the United States.

Population 0 (2015)
Time zone UTC−11:00
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Understand

Or maybe not

In the early 2000s, a writer of "alternate histories" put up a web site which presented itself as the official site of the government of the "Republic of Baker Howland and Jarvis", portraying a bustling tourism destination, including a fake CIA World Factbook article providing statistics for the island nation. The web site is no longer online, but puzzled more than a few armchair travelers. An archive of the site can be viewed here, at the Internet Archive.

History

Discovered by the British in 1821, the uninhabited island was annexed by the US in 1858, but abandoned in 1879 after tons of guano had been removed. The UK annexed the island in 1889, but never carried out plans for further exploitation. The US occupied and reclaimed the island in 1935. Abandoned after World War II, the island is a National Wildlife Refuge administered by the US Department of the Interior; a day beacon is situated near the middle of the west coast.

Flora and fauna

Sparse bunch grass, prostrate vines, and low-growing shrubs; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife.

Climate

Equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun.

Get in

By boat

There is one small boat landing area in the middle of the west coast and another near the southwest corner of the island.

Fees and permits

Public entry is by special-use permit from US Fish and Wildlife Service only and generally restricted to scientists and educators.

See
  • Buildings and a remains of a tramway that were built in the 19th century when guano was mined on the island.
  • The cemetery with four graves from the same time.
  • The wreck of barquentine Amaranth.
  • The coral reef around the island.

Do

Swim in the coral reef sorounding the island.

Buy

There is no economic activity on Jarvis Island.

Sleep

There are no public accommodations on Jarvis Island.

Stay healthy

There are no natural sources of fresh water on Jarvis Island.

Go next


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