The DICT Development Group

  Coral Sea Islands
  
     Introduction Coral Sea Islands
     ------------------------------
                              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 Willis
                                          Island. Automated weather stations,
                                          beacons, and a lighthouse occupy
                                          many other islands and reefs.
    
     Geography Coral Sea Islands
     ---------------------------
                                Location: Oceania, islands in the Coral Sea,
                                          northeast of Australia
                  Geographic coordinates: 18 00 S, 152 00 E
                          Map references: Oceania
                                    Area: total: less than 3 sq km
                                          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: NA
                         Land boundaries: 0 km
                               Coastline: 3,095 km
                         Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
                                          territorial sea: 3 NM
                                 Climate: tropical
                                 Terrain: sand and coral reefs and islands (or
                                          cays)
                      Elevation extremes: 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) (1998 est.)
                          Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1998 est.)
                         Natural hazards: occasional tropical cyclones
            Environment - current issues: no permanent fresh water resources
                        Geography - note: important nesting area for birds and
                                          turtles
    
     People Coral Sea Islands
     ------------------------
                               Population: no indigenous inhabitants
                                           note: there is a staff of three to
                                           four at the meteorological station
                                           (July 2002 est.)
                   Population growth rate: NA
    
     Government Coral Sea Islands
     ----------------------------
                            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
                                          the Environment, Sport, and
                                          Territories
                            Legal system: the laws of Australia, where
                                          applicable, apply
                        Executive branch: administered from Canberra by the
                                          Department of the Environment,
                                          Sport, and Territories
     Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of Australia)
       Diplomatic representation from the none (territory of Australia)
                                      US:
                        Flag description: the flag of Australia is used
    
     Economy Coral Sea Islands
     -------------------------
                                      Economy - overview: no economic activity
    
     Communications Coral Sea Islands
     --------------------------------
                   Communications - note: there are automatic weather stations
                                          on many of the isles and reefs
                                          relaying data to the mainland
    
     Transportation Coral Sea Islands
     --------------------------------
                                      Waterways: none
                              Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
    
     Military Coral Sea Islands
     --------------------------
                         Military - note: defense is the responsibility of
                                          Australia; visited regularly by the
                                          Royal Australian Navy; Australia has
                                          control over the activities of
                                          visitors
    
     Transnational Issues Coral Sea Islands
     --------------------------------------
                                                Disputes - international: none