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            | page last updated on November 15, 2012 | 
           
          
            
              
                  
                     
                             
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                        (CONTAINS DESCRIPTION)
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					| Introduction ::Coral Sea Islands | 
				 
			 
			
	 
	
	
		
				
		
		
				
		
		
			 
			
				
						
				
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					 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. 
				
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					| Geography ::Coral Sea Islands | 
				 
			 
			
	 
	
	
		
				
		
		
				
		
		
			 
			
				
						
				
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					 Oceania, islands in the Coral Sea, northeast of Australia 
				
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										 18 00 S, 152 00 E 
									
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									 total: less than 3 sq km 
									
									
									
												country comparison to the world:   249  
												
							
								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 with the Willis Islets the most important  
							
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										 NA 
									
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										 0 km 
									
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										 3,095 km 
									
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									 territorial sea: 3 nm 
									
									
									
							
								exclusive fishing zone:
								
								200 nm  
							
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										 tropical 
									
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										 sand and coral reefs and islands (or cays) 
									
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									 lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m 
									
									
									
							
								highest point:
								
								unnamed location on Cato Island 6 m  
							
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										 NEGL 
									
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									 arable land: 0% 
									
									
									
							
								permanent crops:
								
								0%  
							
							
								other:
								
								100% (mostly grass or scrub cover) (2005)  
							
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										 0 sq km 
									
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										 occasional tropical cyclones 
									
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										 no permanent freshwater resources 
									
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										 important nesting area for birds and turtles 
									
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					| People and Society ::Coral Sea Islands | 
				 
			 
			
	 
	
	
		
				
		
		
				
		
		
			 
			
				
						
				
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					 no indigenous inhabitants 
				
							
								
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								there is a staff of three to four at the meteorological station on Willis Island (July 2007 est.)  
							
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					| Government ::Coral Sea Islands | 
				 
			 
			
	 
	
	
		
				
		
		
				
		
		
			 
			
				
						
				
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					 conventional long form: Coral Sea Islands Territory  
					
							
								conventional short form:
								
								Coral Sea Islands  
							
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										 territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government 
									
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										 the legal system of Australia, where applicable, applies 
									
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										 none (territory of Australia) 
									
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										 none (territory of Australia) 
									
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										 the flag of Australia is used 
									
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					| Economy ::Coral Sea Islands | 
				 
			 
			
	 
	
	
		
				
		
		
				
		
		
			 
			
				
						
				
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					 no economic activity 
				
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					| Communications ::Coral Sea Islands | 
				 
			 
			
	 
	
	
		
				
		
		
				
		
		
			 
			
				
						
				
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					 there are automatic weather stations on many of the isles and reefs relaying data to the mainland 
				
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					| Transportation ::Coral Sea Islands | 
				 
			 
			
	 
	
	
		
				
		
		
				
		
		
			 
			
				
						
				
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					 none; offshore anchorage only 
				
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					| Military ::Coral Sea Islands | 
				 
			 
			
	 
	
	
		
				
		
		
				
		
		
			 
			
				
						
				
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					 defense is the responsibility of Australia 
				
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					| Transnational Issues ::Coral Sea Islands | 
				 
			 
			
	 
	
	
		
				
		
		
				
		
		
			 
			
				
						
				
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					 none 
				
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