Coral Sea Islands Facts

Facts & Information For Coral Sea Islands

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Introduction

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 the Willis Islets. Automated weather stations, beacons, and a lighthouse occupy many other islands and reefs.

Geography

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 - as described in UNCLOS 1982 (see Notes and Definitions):	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) (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

Population:

no indigenous inhabitants
note: there is a staff of three to four at the meteorological station (2004 est.)

Government

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

Economy - overview:

no economic activity

Communications

Communications - note:

there are automatic weather stations on many of the isles and reefs relaying data to the mainland

Transportation

Waterways:	none
Ports and harbors:	none; offshore anchorage only

Military

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

Disputes - international:

none

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