From Wikisource
 |
Coral Sea Islands |
|
| Introduction |
Coral Sea Islands |
| 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 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
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
water: 0 sq km
land: less than 3 sq km |
| 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) (2001) |
| Irrigated land: |
0 sq km (1998 est.) |
| 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 (2004 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 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 |
| 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 harbors: |
none; offshore anchorage only |
| Military |
Coral Sea Islands |
| Military - note: |
defense is the responsibility of Australia; visited regularly by the Royal Australian Navy; Australia has control over the activities of visitors |
This page was last updated on 1 January 2003
This is a snapshot of the CIA World Fact Book as it existed on 26 March 2005
