Coral Sea Islands

Ports

none; offshore anchorages only

Note

defense is the responsibility of Australia; visited regularly by the Royal Australian Navy; Australia has control over the activities of visitors

Overview

no economic activity

Climate

tropical

Coastline

3,095 km

Comparative area

undetermined

Contiguous zone

12 nm;

Continental shelf

200 meters or to depth of exploitation;

Environment

subject to occasional tropical cyclones; no permanent fresh water; important nesting area for birds and turtles

Exclusive fishing zone

200 nm;

Land boundaries

none

Land use

0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 0% meadows and pastures; 0% forest and woodland; 100% other, mostly grass or scrub cover; Lihou Reef Reserve and Coringa-Herald Reserve were declared National Nature Reserves on 3 August 1982

Natural resources

negligible

Note

the islands are located just off the northeast coast of Australia in the Coral Sea

Terrain

sand and coral reefs and islands (or cays)

Territorial sea

3 nm

Total area

undetermined; includes numerous small islands and reefs scattered over a sea area of about 1 million km2, with Willis Islets the most important

Flag

the flag of Australia is used

Long-form name

Coral Sea Islands Territory

Type

territory of Australia administered by the Minister for Arts, Sport, the Environment, Tourism, and Territories Graham Richardson

Population

3 meteorologists