Introduction - Coral Sea Islands: |
Country | Coral Sea Islands |
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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. |
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Location - Coral Sea Islands: |
Location | Oceania, islands in the Coral Sea, northeast of Australia |
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Geographic coordinates | 18 00 S, 152 00 E |
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Map references | Oceania |
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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 |
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Area comparative | NA |
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Land boundaries | 0 km |
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Coastline | 3,095 km |
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Maritime claims | territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm |
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Climate | tropical |
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Terrain | sand and coral reefs and islands (or cays) |
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Elevation extremes | lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Cato Island 6 m |
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Natural resources | NEGL |
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Land use | arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (mostly grass or scrub cover) (2005) |
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Irrigated land | 0 sq km |
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Natural hazards | occasional tropical cyclones |
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Environment current issues | no permanent fresh water resources |
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Geography note | important nesting area for birds and turtles |
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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.) |
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Dependency status | territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of the Transport and Regional Services |
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Communications note | there are automatic weather stations on many of the isles and reefs relaying data to the mainland |
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Government - Coral Sea Islands: |
Country name | conventional long form: Coral Sea Islands Territory
conventional short form: Coral Sea Islands |
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Legal system | the laws of Australia, where applicable, apply |
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Executive branch | administered from Canberra by the Department of the Transport and Regional Services |
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Diplomatic representation in the us | none (territory of Australia) |
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Diplomatic representation from the us | none (territory of Australia) |
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Flag description | the flag of Australia is used |
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Economy - Coral Sea Islands: |
Economy overview | no economic activity |
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Communications - Coral Sea Islands: |
Transportation - Coral Sea Islands: |
Ports and terminals | none; offshore anchorage only |
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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 |
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This page was last updated on 16 September, 2007