Why did the U.S. claim Wake Island?

It was formally claimed by the United States in 1899 for the site of a cable station and was placed under naval jurisdiction in 1934. The following year a commercial seaplane base and hotel were built for overnight stops on transpacific flights to Guam and the Philippines.



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Located about 2,000 miles (3,200 km) west of Hawaii and 600 miles (approximately 1,000 km) north of the Japanese-held Marshall Islands, Wake Island impressed American naval planners as an ideal site for an advance defensive outpost.

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This small coral atoll in the Pacific Ocean is a restricted area, with only military personnel and scientists allowed on the island. It is administered by the U.S. Air Force and is often used as a military refueling spot of aircraft. There are no permanent residents on Wake Island.

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Today, roughly 40 refuge staff members, contractors and volunteers live there at any given time.

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Wake Island is a tiny island in Micronesia in the Pacific Ocean, located 2/3 of the way from Honolulu to Guam, best known for its role in World War II. It is an unorganized United States territory, with no permanent residents, just members of the U.S. military and civilian contractors who manage the facility.

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How deep is the water? The depth of the cable wakeboarding lake is anywhere from 5-7 feet. The depth of the AQUA PARK lake ranges from 6-12 feet.

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