Baker Island

Understand

History 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 it was disrupted by World War II and thereafter abandoned. The island is now a National Wildlife Refuge run by the US Department of the Interior; there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast.

Landscape Low, nearly level coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef. 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.

Flora and fauna Animal life includes ruddy turnstones, bar-tailed godwits, sanderlings, Pacific golden plovers, albatross, bristle-thighed curlews, Gray Reef Sharks, Spinner dolphins, monk seals, seals, hermit crabs, Green turtles and hawksbill turtles.

Climate Equatorial: scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun.

Getting there

By plane

There is an abandoned World War II runway of 1,665 m (5,463 ft), completely covered with vegetation and unusable.

By boat There is one small boat landing area along the middle of the west coast.

Getting around

The island is only 2.1 km2 (0.81 sq mi), you should easily be able to get around its entire area on foot.

See

There is a cemetery and remnants of structures from early settlement near the middle of the west coast.

Do

Birdwatching and other wildlife observation is one of the few reasons to come here besides the sheer novelty.

Sleep

There is no accommodation on Baker Island.