Introduction
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. The Coral Sea Islands Act 1969 was amended in 1997 to extend the boundaries of the Coral Sea Islands Territory around Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs.
Geography
Location
Oceania, islands in the Coral Sea, northeast of Australia
Geographic coordinates
18 00 S, 152 00 E
Area (sq km)
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 (300,000 sq mi) with the Willis Islets the most important
Area - comparative (sq km)
NA
Land boundaries (km)
0 km
Coastline (km)
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 (m)
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) (2011)
Irrigated land (sq km)
0 sq km (2011)
Natural hazards
occasional tropical cyclones
Environment - current issues
no permanent freshwater resources
Geography - note
important nesting area for birds and turtles
People and Society
Population
no indigenous inhabitants
note: there is a staff of three to four at the meteorological station on Willis Island (July 2007 est.) evolution and prospects (1950-2100)
Government
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 Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport
Legal system
the common law legal system of Australia, where applicable, applies
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
Economy - overview
no economic activity
Communications
Communications - note
automatic weather stations on many of the isles and reefs relay data to the mainland
Transportation
Ports and terminals
none; offshore anchorage only
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
none
Largest cities of Coral Sea Islands
These are the 50 largest cities of Coral Sea Islands ordered based on their number of inhabitants.
| # | City | Population |
|---|