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First discovered by the British in 1821, the uninhabited island was annexed by the US in 1858, but abandoned in 1879 after tons of guano had been removed. The UK annexed the island in 1889, but never carried out plans for further exploitation. The US occupied and reclaimed the island in 1935. Abandoned after World War II, the island is currently a National Wildlife Refuge administered by the US Department of the Interior; a day beacon is situated near the middle of the west coast.
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Country
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Surface Area: 4.5 sq km
Population: uninhabited
Located in: Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and the Cook Islands
Independent since: unincorporated territory of the US
Flag (image): 
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