Territorial sea: 3 nm

_#_Climate: tropical

_#_Terrain: sand and coral reefs and islands (or cays)

_#_Natural resources: negligible

_#_Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest and woodland 0%; other, mostly grass or scrub cover 100%; Lihou Reef Reserve and Coringa-Herald Reserve were declared National Nature Reserves on 3 August 1982

_#_Environment: subject to occasional tropical cyclones; no permanent fresh water; important nesting area for birds and turtles

_#_Note: the islands are located just off the northeast coast of Australia in the Coral Sea

_*People #_Population: 3 meteorologists (1991)

_*Government #_Long-form name: Coral Sea Islands Territory

_#_Type: territory of Australia administered by the Minister for Arts, Sport, the Environment, Tourism, and Territories Roslyn KELLY