Coral Sea Islands




                                  Header


Affiliation:
     (territory of Australia)


                                 Geography


Location:
     Southwestern Oceania, just off the northeast coast of Australia in the
     Coral Sea
Map references:
     Oceania
Area:
total area:
     less than 3 sq km
land area:
     less than 3 sq km
comparative area:
     NA
note:
     includes numerous small islands and reefs scattered over a sea area of
     about 1 million sq km, with Willis Islets the most important
Land boundaries:
     0 km
Coastline:
     3,095 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone:
     200 nm
territorial sea:
     3 nm
International disputes:
     none
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:
     100% (mostly grass or scrub cover)
Irrigated land:
     0 sq km




Environment:
current issues:
     no permanent fresh water resources
natural hazards:
     subject to occasional tropical cyclones
international agreements:
     NA
Note:
     important nesting area for birds and turtles


                                  People


Population:
     no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are 3 meteorologists


                                Government


Names:
conventional long form:
     Coral Sea Islands Territory
conventional short form:
Digraph:
     CR
Type:
     territory of Australia administered by the Ministry for Environment,
     Sport, and Territories
Capital:
     none; administered from Canberra, Australia
Independence:
     none (territory of Australia)
Flag:
     the flag of Australia is used


                                  Economy


Overview:
     no economic activity


                              Communications


Ports:
     none; offshore anchorages only


                              Defense Forces


Note:
     defense is the responsibility of Australia; visited regularly by the
     Royal Australian Navy; Australia has control over the activities of
     visitors