Coral Sea Islands
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.
Coral Sea Islands Geography - See a Map
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 of Coral Sea Islands
Population: no indigenous inhabitants, note: there is a staff of three to four at the meteorological station (July 2003 est.)
Government of 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 of Coral Sea Islands
Economy - overview: no economic activity
Communications of Coral Sea Islands
Communications - note: there are automatic weather stations on many of the isles and reefs relaying data to the mainland
Transportation of Coral Sea Islands
Waterways: none
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
