Geography and Environment

Geography and Environment of Wake Island

Terrain, climate, natural resources, hazards, and environmental conditions of Wake Island.

Terrain: atoll of three coral islands built up on an underwater volcano; central lagoon is former crater, islands are part of the rim
Climate: tropical
Highest Point: 6 — unnamed location 6 m
Lowest Point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

Natural Resources: Wake Island has no significant natural resources of commercial value. The island's terrain consists primarily of low-lying coral atoll land, offering little in the way of extractable minerals or fertile agricultural soil. The surrounding waters of the Pacific Ocean provide some marine resources, including fish, though no large-scale commercial fishing industry operates in the area. The island's remote location and its primary function as a U.S. military installation have precluded any substantial resource development. Wake Island does possess a strategic geographic position in the central Pacific, which, while not a natural resource in the traditional sense, has historically represented its most significant asset — serving as a key refueling and logistics point for transpacific travel and military operations.
Natural Hazards: occasional typhoons

Detailed geography