Exclusive economic zone of the United States
The United States has the world's second largest exclusive economic zone. The total size is 11,351,000 km2 (4,383,000 sq mi)2.[1] Areas of its EEZ are located in three oceans, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea. Most notable areas are Alaska, Hawaii, the East Coast, West Coast and Gulf Coast of the United States.
Geography
The EEZ borders with Russia to the north west, Canada to the north, Cuba, Bahamas, Mexico to the south, Dominican Republic, British Virgin Islands, Anguilla to the south east and Samoa, Niue to the south west. The unincorporated territories of Guam, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Northern Mariana Islands are included.
Territory | EEZ Area (km2) | EEZ Area (sq mi) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Alaska | 3,770,021 | 1,455,613 | A non-contiguous state in the northwest extremity of the North American continent. |
Hawaii – Northwestern Islands | 1,579,538 | 609,863 | Including Midway Atoll, these islands form the Leeward Islands of the Hawaiian island chain. |
U.S. East Coast | 915,763 | 353,578 | The mainland coastal states of the Eastern United States. |
Hawaii – Southeastern Islands | 895,346 | 345,695 | These islands form the Windward Islands of the Hawaiian island chain. |
U.S. West Coast | 825,549 | 318,746 | The mainland coastal states of the Western United States. |
Northern Mariana Islands | 749,268 | 289,294 | An organized unincorporated Commonwealth of the United States. |
U.S. Gulf Coast | 707,832 | 273,295 | The mainland coastal states of the Southern United States. |
Johnston Atoll | 442,635 | 170,902 | A National Wildlife Refuge in the U.S. Minor Outlying Islands. |
Howland and Baker Islands | 434,921 | 167,924 | Including Howland Island and Baker Island, both territories are National Wildlife Refuges in the U.S. Minor Outlying Islands. |
Wake Island | 407,241 | 157,237 | A National Wildlife Refuge in the U.S. Minor Outlying Islands. |
American Samoa | 404,391 | 156,136 | The only inhabited unorganized unincorporated territory of the United States. |
Palmyra Atoll and Kingman Reef | 352,300 | 136,000 | Both territories are National Wildlife Refuges in the U.S. Minor Outlying Islands. |
Jarvis Island | 316,665 | 122,265 | A National Wildlife Refuge in the U.S. Minor Outlying Islands. |
Guam | 221,504 | 85,523 | An organized unincorporated territory of the United States. |
Puerto Rico | 177,685 | 68,605 | An organized unincorporated Commonwealth of the United States. |
U.S. Virgin Islands | 33,744 | 13,029 | An organized unincorporated territory of the United States. |
Navassa Island | N/A | N/A | A National Wildlife Refuge in the U.S. Minor Outlying Islands. |
Total | 11,351,000 | 4,383,000 |
Disputes
Canada
A wedge-shaped section of the Beaufort Sea is disputed between Canada and the United States, because the area reportedly contains substantial oil reserves.[6]
See also
References
- "UKNDA DISCUSSION PAPER" (PDF).
- Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) Archived 2 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Seaaroundus.org. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
- EEZ area of Haiti
- EEZ area of Jamaica
- MARITIME CLAIMS – Navassa Island
- "Transnational Issues CIA World Fact Book". Cia.gov. Retrieved 2012-01-10.