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Coral Sea Islands   Click to enlarge	Introduction   Geography   People   Government   Economy   Communications   Transportation   Military   Transnational Issues
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Legend: Definition of Term Arranged by Countries Field Listing    Introduction    Coral Sea Islands 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.    Geography    Coral Sea Islands 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 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: 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% other: 100% (mostly grass or scrub cover) (1998 est.) 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 Top of Page Population: no indigenous inhabitants note: there is a staff of three to four at the meteorological station (July 2002 est.)    Government    Coral Sea Islands 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    Economy    Coral Sea Islands Top of Page Economy - overview: no economic activity    Communications    Coral Sea Islands Top of Page Communications - note: there are automatic weather stations on many of the isles and reefs relaying data to the mainland    Transportation    Coral Sea Islands Top of Page Waterways: none Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only    Military    Coral Sea Islands 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    Transnational Issues    Coral Sea Islands Top of Page Disputes - international: none

Source:
The World Factbook 2002
Updated: 19 March 2003