The 2005 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

Washington, DC

      Land boundaries:

       0 km

      Coastline:

       6.4 km

      Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

      Climate:

       equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun

      Terrain:

       low-lying, nearly level, sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow

       fringing reef; depressed central area

      Elevation extremes:

       lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

       highest point: unnamed location 3 m

      Natural resources:

       guano (deposits worked until late 1800s), terrestrial and aquatic

       wildlife

      Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2001)

      Irrigated land:

       0 sq km

      Natural hazards:

       the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime

       hazard

      Environment - current issues:

       no natural fresh water resources

      Geography - note:

       almost totally covered with grasses, prostrate vines, and

       low-growing shrubs; small area of trees in the center; primarily a

       nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds,

       and marine wildlife

      People Howland Island

      Population:

       uninhabited

       note: American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air and

       naval attacks during World War II; occupied by US military during

       World War II, but abandoned after the war; public entry is by

       special-use permit from US Fish and Wildlife Service only and

       generally restricted to scientists and educators; visited annually

       by US Fish and Wildlife Service (July 2005 est.)

      Government Howland Island

      Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Howland Island

      Dependency status:

       unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington,

       DC, by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the

       Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system

      Legal system:

       the laws of the US, where applicable, apply

      Flag description:

       the flag of the US is used

      Economy Howland Island

      Economy - overview: no economic activity

      Transportation Howland Island

      Ports and harbors:

       none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one small boat

       landing area along the middle of the west coast

      Airports:

       airstrip constructed in 1937 for scheduled refueling stop on the

       round-the-world flight of Amelia EARHART and Fred NOONAN - they left

       Lae, New Guinea, for Howland Island, but were never seen again; the

       airstrip is no longer serviceable (2004 est.)

      Transportation - note:

       Earhart Light is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast

       that was partially destroyed during World War II, but has since been

       rebuilt; named in memory of famed aviatrix Amelia EARHART

      Military Howland Island

      Military - note:

       defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US

       Coast Guard

      Transnational Issues Howland Island

      Disputes - international: none

      This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

      ======================================================================

      @Hungary

      Introduction Hungary

      Background:

       Hungary was part of the polyglot Austro-Hungarian Empire, which

       collapsed during World War I. The country fell under Communist rule

       following World War II. In 1956, a revolt and announced withdrawal

       from the Warsaw Pact were met with a massive military intervention

       by Moscow. Under the leadership of Janos KADAR in 1968, Hungary

       began liberalizing its economy, introducing so-called "Goulash

       Communism." Hungary held its first multiparty elections in 1990 and

       initiated a free market economy. It joined NATO in 1999 and the EU

       in 2004.

      Geography Hungary

      Location:

       Central Europe, northwest of Romania

      Geographic coordinates:

       47 00 N, 20 00 E

      Map references:

       Europe

      Area:

       total: 93,030 sq km

       land: 92,340 sq km

       water: 690 sq km

      Area - comparative:

       slightly smaller than Indiana

      Land boundaries:

       total: 2,171 km

       border countries: Austria 366 km, Croatia 329 km, Romania 443 km,

       Serbia and Montenegro 151 km, Slovakia 677 km, Slovenia 102 km,

       Ukraine 103 km

      Coastline:

       0 km (landlocked)

      Maritime claims:

       none (landlocked)

      Climate:

       temperate; cold, cloudy, humid winters; warm summers

      Terrain:

       mostly flat to rolling plains; hills and low mountains on the

       Slovakian border

      Elevation extremes:

       lowest point: Tisza River 78 m

       highest point: Kekes 1,014 m

      Natural resources:

       bauxite, coal, natural gas, fertile soils, arable land

      Land use: arable land: 50.09% permanent crops: 2.06% other: 47.85% (2001)

      Irrigated land: 2,100 sq km (1998 est.)

      Environment - current issues: the upgrading of Hungary's standards in waste management, energy efficiency, and air, soil, and water pollution to meet EU requirements will require large investments

      Environment - international agreements:

       party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air

       Pollution-Persistent