Atoll, central Pacific Ocean.
An unincorporated territory of the U.S., Wake Island comprises three low-lying coral islets (Wilkes, Peale, and Wake) that surround a lagoon and occupy a total land area of 2.5 sq mi (6.5 sq km). The atoll was claimed by the U.S. in 1899. The U.S. Navy began construction of an air and submarine base in 1939; it was half-completed when Wake was attacked and occupied by Japanese forces in December 1941 after a 15-day resistance by a small contingent of U.S. Marines. Now administered by the U.S. Air Force, it has been used since 1974 as a commercial aircraft emergency stopover. It is also the site of weather research stations. There is no indigenous population on Wake Island, and U.S. military personnel have left, but some 100 civilians remained at the beginning of the 21st century.