Midway Islands
- Also Known As: Brook Island
- Also Known As: Middlebrook Island
- Vicinity: Midway between Asia and North America
The US took formal possession of the islands in 1867. The laying of the trans-Pacific cable, which passed through the islands, brought the first residents in 1903. Between 1935 and 1947, Midway was used as a refueling stop for trans-Pacific flights. The US naval victory over a Japanese fleet off Midway in 1942 was one of the turning points of World War II. The islands continued to serve as a naval station until closed in 1993. Today the islands are a national wildlife refuge and are the site of the world's largest Laysan albatross colony. From 1996 to 2001 the refuge was open to the public; it is now temporarily closed. - The World Factbook 2013