| 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