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The World Factbook 2002
| Coral Sea Islands |

Introduction | Coral Sea Islands

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

Geography | 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 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: | exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 3 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 | Coral Sea Islands

Population: | no indigenous inhabitants note: there is a staff of three to four at the meteorological station (July 2002 est.)
Population growth rate: | NA

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 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 | Coral Sea Islands

Economy - 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

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

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

Transnational Issues | Coral Sea Islands

Disputes - international: | none

This page was last updated on 1 January 2002