CIA World Fact Book, 2004/Coral Sea Islands


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!| 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 the Willis Islets. Automated weather stations, beacons, and a lighthouse occupy many other islands and reefs.
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!| Location: !| Geographic coordinates: !| Map references: !| Area: 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: !| Land boundaries: !| Coastline: !| Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm !| Climate: !| Terrain: !| Elevation extremes: highest point: unnamed location on Cato Island 6 m !| Natural resources: !| Land use: permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (mostly grass or scrub cover) (2001) !| Irrigated land: !| Natural hazards: !| Environment - current issues: !| Geography - note:
 * Oceania, islands in the Coral Sea, northeast of Australia
 * 18 00 S, 152 00 E
 * Oceania
 * total: less than 3 sq km
 * NA
 * 0 km
 * 3,095 km
 * territorial sea: 3 nm
 * tropical
 * sand and coral reefs and islands (or cays)
 * lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
 * NEGL
 * arable land: 0%
 * 0 sq km (1998 est.)
 * occasional tropical cyclones
 * no permanent fresh water resources
 * important nesting area for birds and turtles
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!| Population: note: there is a staff of three to four at the meteorological station (2004 est.)
 * no indigenous inhabitants
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!| Country name: conventional short form: Coral Sea Islands !| Dependency status: !| Legal system: !| Executive branch: !| Diplomatic representation in the US: !| Diplomatic representation from the US: !| Flag description:
 * conventional long form: Coral Sea Islands Territory
 * territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of the Environment, Sport, and Territories
 * the laws of Australia, where applicable, apply
 * administered from Canberra by the Department of the Environment, Sport, and Territories
 * none (territory of Australia)
 * none (territory of Australia)
 * the flag of Australia is used
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!| Economy - overview:
 * no economic activity
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!| Communications - note:
 * there are automatic weather stations on many of the isles and reefs relaying data to the mainland
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!| Ports and harbors:
 * none; offshore anchorage only
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!| Military - note:
 * defense is the responsibility of Australia; visited regularly by the Royal Australian Navy; Australia has control over the activities of visitors
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