Baker Island, once known as New Nantucket in the early 19th century,[1] is a small, uninhabited atoll located just north of the Equator in the central Pacific Ocean, approximately 1,920 miles (3,090 kilometres) southwest of Honolulu.

[6] A cemetery and remnants from previous settlements are located near the middle of Baker Island's west coast, where the boat landing area is situated.

The narrow, fringing reef surrounding Baker Island presents a significant maritime hazard, making access to the shore difficult.

[7] Baker Island's abandoned World War II runway, which measures 5,463 ft (1,665 m) in length, is now completely overgrown with vegetation and is unserviceable.

[10] Some accounts suggest that Baker visited the island earlier, in 1832, and returned on August 14, 1839, aboard the whaler Gideon Howland, where he reportedly buried an American seaman.

[21] The settlement was eventually evacuated in 1942 following Japanese attacks during World War II, and the U.S. military forces subsequently occupied the island.

[22] The town was named for Captain H. A. Meyer, United States Army, who assisted in establishing living quarters and rainwater cisterns for the colonists.

This airfield served as a crucial staging base for the Seventh Air Force, allowing B-24 Liberator bombers to launch attacks on Japanese positions, including Mili Atoll in the Marshall Islands.

This station, designated as Unit 91 with the radio call sign NRN-1, was a critical navigation aid for U.S. military operations in the Pacific during and immediately after World War II.

[28] LORAN stations like the one on Baker Island were part of a network used to assist ships and aircraft in determining their positions accurately, particularly in the vast and often featureless expanse of the Pacific Ocean.

[29] Baker Island is devoid of natural fresh water sources and receives minimal rainfall, making it an arid and inhospitable environment.

It is designated as a wildlife refuge and is characterized by sparse vegetation, including four types of grass,[30] prostrate vines, and low-growing shrubs.

Baker Island has been recognized as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International due to its support for large breeding colonies of seabirds, such as lesser frigatebirds, masked boobies and sooty terns.

[31] Migratory waders, including ruddy turnstones, bar-tailed godwits, sanderlings, and Pacific golden plovers, visit the island seasonally.

Environmental challenges facing the refuge include remnants of abandoned military debris from World War II and the threat of illegal fishing in offshore waters.

Although limited tour packages are available from early June to mid-August, unauthorized visits and activities such as swimming, fishing, and lighting fires are strictly prohibited.

In the northeast section of the island, which appears to have been the main camp area during the military occupation, the remains of several buildings and heavy equipment are still visible.

Numerous bulldozer excavations containing remnants of metal, fuel, and water drums are scattered throughout the north-central portion and along the island's northern edge.

The U.S. Navy reported the loss of 11 landing craft in the surf during the wartime operations, contributing to the debris found in the waters surrounding the island.