Coral Sea Islands

Past

Coral Sea Islands

Background:

Scattered over more than three-quarters of a 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.

Environment

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
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:

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) (2005)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km

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 on Willis Island (July 2007 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 Transport and Regional Services

Legal system:

the laws of Australia, where applicable, apply

Executive branch:

administered from Canberra by the Department of the Transport and Regional Services

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

Business

Coral Sea Islands

Business - 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

Ports and terminals:

none; offshore anchorage only

Security

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

International

Coral Sea Islands

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 17 January, 2008 Source: The World Factbook