### Coral Sea Islands

(territory of Australia)

- Introduction
- Geography
- People
- Government
- Economy
- Communications
- Transportation
- Military
- Transnational Issues

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:
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

Population: no indigenous inhabitants
note: there is a staff of three to four at the meteorological station on Willis Island (July 2007 est.)

GOVERNMENT

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 Australian Attorney-General's Department

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

Executive branch:
administered from Canberra by the Australian Attorney-General's Department

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

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

Click to enlarge.
Flag description:
the flag of Australia is used

ECONOMY

Economy - overview: no economic activity

COMMUNICATIONS

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

TRANSPORTATION

Ports and terminals: none; offshore anchorage only

MILITARY

Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Australia

TRANSNATIONAL ISSUES

Disputes - international: none

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