Coral Sea Islands

   Introduction Coral Sea Islands
   ------------------------------
                            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.
  
   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
                                        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
                                        water: 0 sq km
                                        land: less than 3 sq km
                    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%
                                        other: 100% (mostly grass or scrub
                                        cover) (1998 est.)
                        Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1998 est.)
                       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
                                         (July 2002 est.)
                 Population growth rate: NA
  
   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 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 none (territory of Australia)
                                    US:
                      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
   --------------------------------
                                    Waterways: none
                            Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
  
   Military Coral Sea Islands
   --------------------------
                       Military - note: defense is the responsibility of
                                        Australia; visited regularly by the
                                        Royal Australian Navy; Australia has
                                        control over the activities of
                                        visitors
  
   Transnational Issues Coral Sea Islands
   --------------------------------------
                                              Disputes - international: none