   baker island  is an uninhabited atoll located just north of the equator in the central pacific ocean about  southwest of honolulu. the island lies almost halfway between hawaii and australia. its nearest neighbor is howland island,  to the north-northwest; both have been territories of the united states since 1857. located at . the island covers , with  of coastline. the climate is equatorial, with little rainfall, constant wind, and strong sunshine. the terrain is low-lying and sandy: a coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef with a depressed central area devoid of a lagoon with its highest point being  above sea level. the island now forms the baker island national wildlife refuge and is an unincorporated and unorganized territory of the u.s. which vouches for its defense. it is visited annually by the u.s. fish and wildlife service. for statistical purposes, baker is grouped with the united states minor outlying islands. ==description== a cemetery and rubble from earlier settlements are located near the middle of the west coast, where the boat landing area is located. there are no ports or harbors, with anchorage available only offshore. the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard, so there is a day beacon near the old village site. baker's abandoned world war ii runway,  long, is completely covered with vegetation and is unserviceable. the
Baker_Island Coral_islands