Country:  Coral Sea Islands
(territory of Australia)
- Geography
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
 
Comparative area: undetermined
 
Land boundaries: none
 
Coastline: 3,095 km
 
Maritime claims:
 
Contiguous zone: 12 nm;
 
Continental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploitation;
 
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;
 
Territorial sea: 3 nm
 
Climate: tropical
 
Terrain: sand and coral reefs and islands (or cays)
 
Natural resources: negligible
 
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
 
Environment: subject to occasional tropical cyclones; no permanent
fresh water; important nesting area for birds and turtles
 
Note: the islands are located just off the northeast coast of
Australia in the Coral Sea
 
- People
Population: 3 meteorologists
 
- Government
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
 
Flag: the flag of Australia is used
 
- Economy
Overview: no economic activity
 
- Communications
Ports: none; offshore anchorages only
 
- Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia; visited regularly by
the Royal Australian Navy; Australia has control over the activities of visitors