| Introduction - Coral Sea Islands: |
| Country | Coral Sea Islands |
|
| 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. |
|
| Location - 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
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 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 sq km |
|
| 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 on Willis Island (July 2007 est.) |
|
| Dependency status | territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of the Transport and Regional Services |
|
| Communications note | there are automatic weather stations on many of the isles and reefs relaying data to the mainland |
|
| Government - Coral Sea Islands: |
| Country name | conventional long form: Coral Sea Islands Territory
conventional short form: Coral Sea Islands |
|
| Legal system | the laws of Australia, where applicable, apply |
|
| Executive branch | administered from Canberra by the Department of the Transport and Regional Services |
|
| 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: |
| Transportation - Coral Sea Islands: |
| Ports and terminals | 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 |
|