Coral Sea Islands

§1. Coral Sea Islands Introduction

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.

§2. Coral Sea Islands 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 kmē
  land: less than 3 kmē
  water: 0 kmē
  note: includes numerous small islands and reefs scattered over a sea area
    of about 780,000 kmē, 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 kmē

Natural hazards:
  occasional tropical cyclones

Environment - current issues:
  no permanent fresh water resources

Geography - note:
  important nesting area for birds and turtles

§3. Coral Sea Islands People

Population:
  no indigenous inhabitants
  note: there is a staff of three to four at the meteorological station (2005
    est.)

§4. Coral Sea Islands 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

§5. Coral Sea Islands Economy

Economy - overview:
  no economic activity

§6. Coral Sea Islands Communications

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

§7. Coral Sea Islands Transportation

Ports and terminals:
  none; offshore anchorage only

§8. Coral Sea Islands Military

Military - note:
  defense is the responsibility of Australia; visited regularly by the Royal
  Australian Navy; Australia has control over the activities of visitors

§9. Coral Sea Islands Transnational Issues

Disputes - international:
  none


<Factbook 2006>
