Introduction

Background: |  |
`Scattered over more than three-quarters of a 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 the Willis Islets. Automated weather stations, beacons, and a lighthouse occupy many other islands and reefs.`

Geography

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 country comparison to the world: 247 land: less than 3 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes numerous small islands and reefs scattered over a sea area of about 780,000 sq km with the Willis Islets the most important`
Area - comparative: |  |
`NA`
Land boundaries: |  |
`0 km`
Coastline: |  |
`3,095 km`
Maritime claims: |  |
`territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 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% other: 100% (mostly grass or scrub cover) (2005)`
Irrigated land: |  |
`0 sq km`
Natural hazards: |  |
`occasional tropical cyclones`
Environment - current issues: |  |
`no permanent freshwater resources`
Geography - note: |  |
`important nesting area for birds and turtles`

People

Population: |  |
`no indigenous inhabitants note: there is a staff of three to four at the meteorological station on Willis Island (July 2007 est.)`

Government

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 Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government`
Legal system: |  |
`the legal system of Australia, where applicable, applies`
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

Economy - overview: |  |
`no economic activity`

Communications

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

Transportation

Ports and terminals: |  |
`none; offshore anchorage only`

Military

Military - note: |  |
`defense is the responsibility of Australia`

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: |  |
`none`

PAGE LAST UPDATED ON MAY 25, 2011