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Coral Sea Islands
(territory of Australia)

   Introduction   Geography   People   Government   Economy   Communications   Transportation   Military   Transnational Issues  
 
Coral Sea Islands    Introduction Top of Page
Background: Scattered over some 1 million square kilometers of ocean, the Coral Sea Islands were declared a territory of Australia in 1969. They are uninhabited except for a small meteorological staff on Willis Island. Automated weather stations, beacons, and a lighthouse occupy many other islands and reefs.
Coral Sea Islands    Geography Top of Page
Location: Oceania, islands in the Coral Sea, northeast of Australia
Geographic coordinates: 18 00 S, 152 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area: total:  less than 3 sq km

land:  less than 3 sq km

water:  0 sq km

note:  includes numerous small islands and reefs scattered over a sea area of about 1 million sq km, with the Willis Islets the most important
Area - comparative: NA
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 3,095 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone:  200 NM

territorial sea:  3 NM
Climate: tropical
Terrain: sand and coral reefs and islands (or cays)
Elevation extremes: lowest point:  Pacific Ocean 0 m

highest point:  unnamed location on Cato Island 6 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use: arable land:  0%

permanent crops:  0%

permanent pastures:  0%

forests and woodland:  0%

other:  100% (mostly grass or scrub cover)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: occasional tropical cyclones
Environment - current issues: no permanent fresh water resources
Geography - note: important nesting area for birds and turtles
Coral Sea Islands    People Top of Page
Population: no indigenous inhabitants

note:  there is a staff of three to four at the meteorological station (July 2001 est.)
Coral Sea Islands    Government Top of Page
Country name: conventional long form:  Coral Sea Islands Territory

conventional short form:  Coral Sea Islands
Dependency status: territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of the Environment, Sport, and Territories
Legal system: the laws of Australia, where applicable, apply
Executive branch: administered from Canberra by the Department of the Environment, Sport, and Territories
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of Australia)
Flag description: the flag of Australia is used
Coral Sea Islands    Economy Top of Page
Economy - overview: no economic activity
Coral Sea Islands    Communications Top of Page
Communications - note: there are automatic weather stations on many of the isles and reefs relaying data to the mainland
Coral Sea Islands    Transportation Top of Page
Waterways: none
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
Coral Sea Islands    Military Top of Page
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Australia; visited regularly by the Royal Australian Navy; Australia has control over the activities of visitors
Coral Sea Islands    Transnational Issues Top of Page
Disputes - international: none

 

Source of Information: CIA - The World Factbook 2001