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| Ashmore and Cartier Islands |

Introduction | Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Background: | These uninhabited islands came under Australian authority in 1931; formal administration began two years later. Ashmore Reef supports a rich and diverse avian and marine habitat; in 1983, it became a National Nature Reserve. Cartier Island, a former bombing range, is now a marine reserve.

Geography | Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Location: | Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean, northwest of Australia, south of the Indonesian half of Timor island
Geographic coordinates: | 12 14 S, 123 05 E
Map references: | Southeast Asia
Area: | total: 5 sq km note: includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) and Cartier Island water: 0 sq km land: 5 sq km
Area - comparative: | about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries: | 0 km
Coastline: | 74.1 km
Maritime claims: | contiguous zone: 12 NM continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation territorial sea: 12 NM exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
Climate: | tropical
Terrain: | low with sand and coral
Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 3 m
Natural resources: | fish
Land use: | arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (all grass and sand) (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: | 0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: | surrounded by shoals and reefs that can pose maritime hazards
Environment - current issues: | NA
Geography - note: | Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983

People | Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Population: | no indigenous inhabitants note: Indonesian fishermen are allowed access to the lagoon and fresh water at Ashmore Reef's West Island (July 2003 est.)
People - note: | the landing of illegal immigrants from Indonesia's Rote Island has become an ongoing problem

Government | Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Country name: | conventional long form: Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands conventional short form: Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Dependency status: | territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services
Legal system: | the laws of the Commonwealth of Australia and the laws of the Northern Territory of Australia, where applicable, apply
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

Economy | Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Economy - overview: | no economic activity

Transportation | Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Waterways: | none
Ports and harbors: | none; offshore anchorage only

Military | Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Military - note: | defense is the responsibility of Australia; periodic visits by the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force

Transnational Issues | Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Disputes - international: | nationalist group in Indonesia reportedly seeks to populate reefs to assert claims; Australia has moved to close reefs to Indonesian traditional fishing and to create a national park while prospecting for hydrocarbons in the vicinity

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003