coral sea islands

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.

Geography

     Location:  Oceania, islands in the Coral Sea, northeast of
                Australia

    Geographic  18 00 S, 152 00 E
  coordinates:

           Map  Oceania
   references:

         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 -  NA
  comparative:

          Land  0 km
   boundaries:

    Coastline:  3,095 km

      Maritime  territorial sea: 3 nm
       claims:  exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

      Climate:  tropical

      Terrain:  sand and coral reefs and islands (or cays)

     Elevation  lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
     extremes:  highest point: unnamed location on Cato Island 6 m

       Natural  NEGL
    resources:

     Land use:  arable land: 0%
                permanent crops: 0%
                other: 100% (mostly grass or scrub cover) (2005)

     Irrigated  0 sq km
         land:

       Natural  occasional tropical cyclones
      hazards:

 Environment -  no permanent fresh water resources
       current
       issues:

   Geography -  important nesting area for birds and turtles
         note:

People

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

Government

 Country name:  conventional long form: Coral Sea Islands Territory
                conventional short form: Coral Sea Islands

    Dependency  territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by
       status:  the Department of the Environment, Sport, and
                Territories

 Legal system:  the laws of Australia, where applicable, apply

     Executive  administered from Canberra by the Department of the
       branch:  Environment, Sport, and Territories

    Diplomatic  none (territory of Australia)
representation
    in the US:

    Diplomatic  none (territory of Australia)
representation
  from the US:

          Flag  the flag of Australia is used
  description:

Economy

     Economy -  no economic activity
     overview:

Communications

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

Transportation

     Ports and  none; offshore anchorage only
    terminals:

Military

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

Transnational
Issues

    Disputes -  none
international: