CORAL SEA ISLANDS
@Coral Sea Islands:Geography
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 1 million sq km, with the Willis Islets the most important
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% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (mostly grass or scrub cover)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: occasional, tropical cyclones
Environment - current issues: no permanent fresh water resources
Geography - note: important nesting area for birds and turtles
@Coral Sea Islands:People
Population: no indigenous inhabitants note: there is a staff of three to four at the meteorological station (July 2000 est.)
@Coral Sea Islands:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Coral Sea Islands Territory conventional short form: Coral Sea Islands
Data code: CR
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
@Coral Sea Islands:Economy
Economy - overview: no economic activity
@Coral Sea Islands:Communications
Communications - note: there are automatic weather stations on many of the isles and reefs relaying data to the mainland
@Coral Sea Islands:Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
@Coral Sea Islands:Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Australia; visited regularly by the Royal Australian Navy; Australia has control over the activities of visitors
@Coral Sea Islands:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
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