(territory of Australia)
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Coral Sea Islands (territory of Australia) |
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| Introduction Geography People Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues | ||
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| 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 |