Navassa Island

Background:
Location: Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, about one-fourth of the way from Haiti to Jamaica. Area: Total: 5.2 sq km. Area - comparative: About nine times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC. Coastline: 8 km. Maritime claims: Exclusive economic zone: 200 NM, territorial sea: 12 NM.
Climate and Terrain: Climate: Marine, tropical. Terrain: Raised coral and limestone plateau, flat to undulating; ringed by vertical white cliffs (9 to 15 m high). Elevation extremes: Lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m, highest point: unnamed location on southwest side 77 m. Natural resources: Guano. Land use: Arable land: 0%. Geography - note: Strategic location 160 km south of the US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; mostly exposed rock, but enough grassland to support goat herds; dense stands of fig-like trees, scattered cactus.

People: Population: Uninhabited. Note: transient Haitian fishermen and others camp on the island.
Government: Dependency status: Unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington, DC, by the Fish and Wildlife Service, US Department of the Interior; in September 1996, the Coast Guard ceased operations and maintenance of Navassa Island Light, a 46-meter-tall lighthouse on the southern side of the island; there has also been a private claim advanced against the island Disputes - international: Claimed by Haiti.
Economy overview: No economic activity.
Statistics: Ports and harbors: None; offshore anchorage only.