Search our site for information to make your travels safer and more enjoyable.
 
  Help
 
Coral Sea Islands
Map of Coral Sea Islands
Introduction Coral Sea Islands
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 Coral Sea Islands
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 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 fresh water resources
Geography - note:
 important nesting area for birds and turtles
People Coral Sea Islands
Population:
 no indigenous inhabitants
note: there is a staff of three to four at the meteorological station on Willis Island (July 2007 est.)
Government Coral Sea Islands
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 Australian Attorney-General's Department
Legal system:
 the laws of Australia, where applicable, apply
Executive branch:
 administered from Canberra by the Australian Attorney-General's Department
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 Coral Sea Islands
Economy - overview:
 no economic activity
Communications Coral Sea Islands
Communications - note:
 there are automatic weather stations on many of the isles and reefs relaying data to the mainland
Transportation Coral Sea Islands
Ports and terminals:
 none; offshore anchorage only
Military Coral Sea Islands
Military - note:
 defense is the responsibility of Australia
Transnational Issues Coral Sea Islands
Disputes - international:
 none


Terms of Service
Copyright 1997 - 2008 Trust Earned Travel
All rights reserved