Ashmore and Cartier Islands




                                  Header


Affiliation:
     (territory of Australia)


                                 Geography


Location:
     Southeastern Asia, in the Indian Ocean, 320 km off the northwest coast
     of Australia, between Australia and Indonesia
Map references:
     Oceania, Southeast Asia
Area:
total area:
     5 sq km
land area:
     5 sq km
comparative area:
     about 8.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
note:
     includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) and Cartier
     Island
Land boundaries:
     0 km
Coastline:
     74.1 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
     12 nm
continental shelf:
     200-m depth or to depth of exploration
exclusive fishing zone:
     200 nm
territorial sea:
     3 nm
International disputes:
     none
Climate:
     tropical
Terrain:
     low with sand and coral
Natural resources:
     fish
Land use:
arable land:
     0%
permanent crops:
     0%
meadows and pastures:
     0%
forest and woodland:
     0%
other:
     100% (all grass and sand)




Irrigated land:
     0 sq km
Environment:
current issues:
     NA
natural hazards:
     surrounded by shoals and reefs
international agreements:
     NA
Note:
     Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983


                                  People


Population:
     no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are only seasonal caretakers


                                Government


Names:
conventional long form:
     Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands
conventional short form:
Digraph:
     AT
Type:
     territory of Australia administered by the Australian Ministry for the
     Environment, Sport, and Territories
Capital:
     none; administered from Canberra, Australia
Administrative divisions:
     none (territory of Australia)
Independence:
     none (territory of Australia)
Legal system:
     relevant laws of the Northern Territory of Australia
Diplomatic representation in US:
     none (territory of Australia)
US diplomatic representation:
     none (territory of Australia)


                                  Economy


Overview:
     no economic activity


                              Communications


Ports:
     none; offshore anchorage only


                              Defense Forces




Note:
     defense is the responsibility of Australia; periodic visits by the
     Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force