Coral Sea Islands

This page was last updated on 4 September 2008

Legend: Definition Field Listing Rank Order

Background:

Scattered over more than three-quarters of a 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 the Willis Islets. Automated weather stations, beacons, and a lighthouse occupy many other islands and reefs.

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 780,000 sq km, with the Willis Islets the most important
Area - comparative:	NA
Land boundaries:	0 km
Coastline:	3,095 km
Maritime claims:	territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 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% other: 100% (mostly grass or scrub cover) (2005)
Irrigated land:	0 sq km
Natural hazards:	occasional tropical cyclones
Environment - current issues:	no permanent fresh water resources
Geography - note:	important nesting area for birds and turtles

Population:

no indigenous inhabitants note: there is a staff of three to four at the meteorological station on Willis Island (July 2007 est.)

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 Australian Attorney-General's Department
Legal system:	the laws of Australia, where applicable, apply
Executive branch:	administered from Canberra by the Australian Attorney-General's Department
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

Economy - overview:

no economic activity

Communications - note:

there are automatic weather stations on many of the isles and reefs relaying data to the mainland

Ports and terminals:

none; offshore anchorage only

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of Australia

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 4 September 2008