| Coral Sea Islands (territory of Australia) |
Introduction Geography People Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Coral Sea Islands | Introduction | Top of Page

Background: | 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 Willis Island. Automated weather stations, beacons, and a lighthouse occupy many other islands and reefs.

Coral Sea Islands | Geography | Top of Page

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 | Top of Page

Population: | no indigenous inhabitants note: there is a staff of three to four at the meteorological station (July 2001 est.)

Coral Sea Islands | Government | Top of Page

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

Coral Sea Islands | Economy | Top of Page

Economy - overview: | no economic activity

Coral Sea Islands | Communications | Top of Page

Communications - note: | there are automatic weather stations on many of the isles and reefs relaying data to the mainland

Coral Sea Islands | Transportation | Top of Page

Waterways: | none

Ports and harbors: | none; offshore anchorage only

Coral Sea Islands | Military | Top of Page

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 | Top of Page

Disputes - international: | none