Navassa Island Government - 2023

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES 

Country name

conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Navassa Island

etymology: the flat island was named "Navaza" by some of Christopher COLUMBUS' sailors in 1504; the name derives from the Spanish term "nava" meaning "flat land, plain, or field"

Dependency status

unorganized, unincorporated territory of the US; administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service, US Department of the Interior from the Caribbean Islands National Wildlife Refuge in Boqueron, Puerto Rico; in September 1996, the Coast Guard ceased operations and maintenance of the Navassa Island Light, a 46-meter-tall lighthouse on the southern side of the island; Haiti has claimed the island since the 19th century

Legal system

the laws of the US apply where applicable

Diplomatic representation from the US

embassy: none (territory of the US)

Flag description

the flag of the US is used

NOTE: The information regarding Navassa Island on this page is re-published from the 2023 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Navassa Island 2023 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Navassa Island 2023 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.