Coral Sea Islands . English. |
| The World Factbook 2002 | ||
| Coral Sea Islands | 
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|
 |
| 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 Willis Island. 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: |
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 |
| Population: |
no indigenous inhabitants
note: there is a staff of three to four at the meteorological station (July 2002 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 |
| Waterways: |
none |
| 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 |
| Transnational Issues | Coral Sea Islands |
| Disputes
- international: |
none |
Source:
The World Factbook 2002
Last Updated: 19 March 2003
2000-2007
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