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| The World Fact Site | ||
| Coral Sea Islands |
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| Introduction | Coral Sea Islands |
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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 the Willis Islets. Automated weather stations, beacons, and a lighthouse occupy many other islands and reefs. |
| Geography | Coral Sea Islands |
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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
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 |
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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) (2001) |
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Irrigated land: |
0 sq km (1998 est.) |
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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 |
| People | Coral Sea Islands |
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Population: |
no indigenous inhabitants
note: there is a staff of three to four at the meteorological station (2004 est.) |
| Government | Coral Sea Islands |
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Country name: |
conventional long form:
Coral Sea Islands Territory conventional short form: Coral Sea Islands |
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Dependency status: |
territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of the Environment, Sport, and Territories |
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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 Environment, Sport, and Territories |
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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 |
| Economy | Coral Sea Islands |
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Economy - overview: |
no economic activity |
| Communications | Coral Sea Islands |
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Communications - note: |
there are automatic weather stations on many of the isles and reefs relaying data to the mainland |
| Transportation | Coral Sea Islands |
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Ports and harbors: |
none; offshore anchorage only |
| Military | Coral Sea Islands |
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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 |
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Disputes - international: |
none |
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