Top banner
The World Factbook Banner

         
  Coral Sea Islands  
Flag of Coral Sea Islands
Click to enlarge
Categories Banner
 Introduction
 Geography
 People
 Government
 Economy
 Communications
 Transportation
 Military
 Transnational Issues

This page was last updated on 28 July, 2005


Map of Coral Sea Islands



Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Coral Sea Islands
Background:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
Oceania, islands in the Coral Sea, northeast of Australia
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
18 00 S, 152 00 E
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Oceania
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
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:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
0 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
3,095 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
tropical
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
sand and coral reefs and islands (or cays)
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Cato Island 6 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
NEGL
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (mostly grass or scrub cover) (2001)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
0 sq km
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
occasional tropical cyclones
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
no permanent fresh water resources
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
important nesting area for birds and turtles
   People    Coral Sea Islands
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
no indigenous inhabitants
note: there is a staff of three to four at the meteorological station (2005 est.)
   Government    Coral Sea Islands
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: Coral Sea Islands Territory
conventional short form: Coral Sea Islands
Dependency status:
Definition Field Listing
territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of the Environment, Sport, and Territories
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
the laws of Australia, where applicable, apply
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
administered from Canberra by the Department of the Environment, Sport, and Territories
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
none (territory of Australia)
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
the flag of Australia is used
   Economy    Coral Sea Islands
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
no economic activity
   Communications    Coral Sea Islands
Communications - note:
Definition Field Listing
there are automatic weather stations on many of the isles and reefs relaying data to the mainland
   Transportation    Coral Sea Islands
Ports and harbors:
Definition Field Listing
none; offshore anchorage only
   Military    Coral Sea Islands
Military - note:
Definition Field Listing
defense is the responsibility of Australia; visited regularly by the Royal Australian Navy; Australia has control over the activities of visitors
   Transnational Issues    Coral Sea Islands
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
none

This page was last updated on 28 July, 2005


Bottom Banner