Ashmore and Cartier Islands
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| Area | total: 5 sq km note: includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) and Cartier Island water: 0 sq km land: 5 sq km |
| Population | no indigenous inhabitants note: Indonesian fishermen are allowed access to the lagoon and fresh waster at Ashmore Reef's West Island |
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This article is an import from the CIA World Factbook 2002. It's a starting point for creating a real MaxTravelz country article according to our country article template. Please plunge forward and edit it.
These uninhabited islands came under Australian authority in 1931; formal administration began two years later. Ashmore Reef supports a rich and diverse avian and marine habitat; in 1983 it became a National Nature Reserve. Cartier Island, a former bombing range, is now a marine reserve.
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Geography
Map of Ashmore and Cartier Islands
- Location
- Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean, northwest of Australia
- Geographic coordinates
- 12 14 S, 123 05 E
- Map references
- Southeast Asia
- Area
- total: 5 sq km
note: includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) and Cartier Island
water: 0 sq km
land: 5 sq km
- Area - comparative
- about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
- Land boundaries
- 0 km
- Coastline
- 74.1 km
- Maritime claims
- contiguous zone: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
- Climate
- tropical
- Terrain
- low with sand and coral
- Elevation extremes
- lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 3 m
- Natural resources
- fish
- Land use
- arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (all grass and sand) (1998 est.)
- Irrigated land
- 0 sq km (1998 est.)
- Natural hazards
- surrounded by shoals and reefs that can pose maritime hazards
- Environment - current issues
- NA
- Geography - note
- Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983
People
- Population
- no indigenous inhabitants
note: Indonesian fishermen are allowed access to the lagoon and fresh waster at Ashmore Reef's West Island
- People - note
- the landing of illegal immigrants from Indonesia's Rote Island has become an ongoing problem
Government
- Country name
- conventional long form: Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands
conventional short form: Ashmore and Cartier Islands
- Dependency status
- territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services
- Legal system
- the laws of the Commonwealth of Australia and the laws of the Northern Territory of Australia, where applicable, apply
- 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
Transportation
- Waterways
- none
- Ports and harbors
- none; offshore anchorage only
Military
- Military - note
- defense is the responsibility of Australia; periodic visits by the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force