CIA World Fact Book, 2004/Coral Sea Islands
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Coral Sea Islands | .svg)
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| Introduction |
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| 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. |
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| Geography | Coral Sea Islands |
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| Location: | Oceania, islands in the Coral Sea, northeast of Australia |
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| 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 |
| People | Coral Sea Islands |
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| Population: | no indigenous inhabitants note: there is a staff of three to four at the meteorological station (2004 est.) |
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| Government | Coral Sea Islands |
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| Country name: | conventional long form: Coral Sea Islands Territory conventional short form: Coral Sea Islands |
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| 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 |
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| Economy - overview: | no economic activity |
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| Communications | Coral Sea Islands |
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| Communications - note: | there are automatic weather stations on many of the isles and reefs relaying data to the mainland |
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| Transportation | Coral Sea Islands |
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| Ports and harbors: | none; offshore anchorage only |
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| Military | Coral Sea Islands |
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| Military - note: | defense is the responsibility of Australia; visited regularly by the Royal Australian Navy; Australia has control over the activities of visitors |
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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