|
|
|
| |
| The World Factbook |
|
|
Coral Sea Islands |
|
| Introduction |
Coral Sea Islands |
|
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.
|
| Geography |
Coral Sea Islands |
|
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.)
|
| Government |
Coral Sea Islands |
|
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 |
Coral Sea Islands |
|
Economy - overview:
|
no economic activity
|
| Communications |
Coral Sea Islands |
|
Communications - note:
|
there are automatic weather stations on many of the isles and reefs relaying data to the mainland
|
| Transportation |
Coral Sea Islands |
|
Ports and terminals:
|
none; offshore anchorage only
|
| Military |
Coral Sea Islands |
|
Military - note:
|
defense is the responsibility of Australia
|
| Transnational Issues |
Coral Sea Islands |
|
Disputes - international:
|
none
|
|
This page was last updated on 4 September, 2008
|
| | Source : The World Factbook |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
