Navassa Island BQ
A small, rugged Caribbean island between Jamaica and Haiti, claimed by both the United States and Haiti, home to a historic lighthouse and one of the most biodiverse coral reef ecosystems in the Caribbean.
About Navassa Island
Navassa Island stands apart from every other U.S. minor outlying territory in one important way: it is in the Caribbean, not the Pacific. This small, rugged island of about 2 square miles sits in the Windward Passage between Jamaica and Haiti, rising sharply from the sea on cliffs of coral limestone. Its highest point reaches 256 feet, making it notably more elevated than its flat Pacific counterparts.
Navassa also carries the distinction of being the subject of the longest-running unresolved foreign territorial dispute involving any U.S. territory. Haiti has claimed the island since its founding constitution in 1801, a claim the United States has never recognized. The U.S. asserts sovereignty under the Guano Islands Act of 1857 and has administered the island ever since.
Its human history includes a brutal guano mining era, a landmark labor uprising in 1889, and a lighthouse that guided Caribbean shipping for decades. Today Navassa is a closed National Wildlife Refuge, and its surrounding waters rank among the most biologically rich coral reef ecosystems in the entire Caribbean.
Aerial view of Navassa Island
The Navassa Island Light, built in 1903
Navassa Island vs. a U.S. State
| Feature | Navassa Island | U.S. State |
|---|---|---|
| Permanent Population | None | Yes |
| Local Government | None | State government |
| Congressional Representation | None | Senators + Representatives |
| Voting in Federal Elections | No residents | Yes |
| U.S. Constitution Applies | Partially (by statute) | Fully |
| Administered By | Fish & Wildlife Service | Elected officials |
| Sovereignty Disputed | Yes — Haiti claims it | No |
| Public Access | Closed — no entry | Generally open |