|
| World Fact Book
| Mark H. Solsman
| Documentation Training and Publications, Center for Academic Computing
| mhs108@psu.edu  10/19/93
I
 
_@_Ashmore and Cartier Islands Geography
 
Total area:
    5 km2
Land area:
    5 km2; includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) and Cartier
    Island
Comparative area:
    about 8.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
    none
Coastline:
    74.1 km
Maritime claims:
  Contiguous zone:
    12 nm
  Continental shelf:
    200 m (depth) or to depth of exploration
  Exclusive fishing zone:
    200 nm
  Territorial sea:
    3 nm
Disputes:
    none
Climate:
    tropical
Terrain:
    low with sand and coral
Natural resources:
    fish
Land use:
    arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest and
    woodland 0%; other - grass and sand 100%
Environment:
    surrounded by shoals and reefs; Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve
    established in August 1983
Note:
    located in extreme eastern Indian Ocean between Australia and Indonesia, 320
    km off the northwest coast of Australia
 
:Ashmore and Cartier Islands People
 
Population:
    no permanent inhabitants; seasonal caretakers
 
:Ashmore and Cartier Islands Government
 
Long-form name:
    Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Type:
    territory of Australia administered by the Australian Minister for Arts,
    Sports, the Environment, Tourism, and Territories - Roslyn KELLY
Capital:
    none; administered from Canberra, Australia
Administrative divisions:
    none (territory of Australia)
Legal system:
    relevant laws of the Northern Territory of Australia
Diplomatic representation:
    none (territory of Australia)
 
:Ashmore and Cartier Islands Economy
 
Overview:
    no economic activity
 
:Ashmore and Cartier Islands Communications
 
Ports:
    none; offshore anchorage only
 
:Ashmore and Cartier Islands Defense Forces
 
Note:
    defense is the responsibility of Australia; periodic visits by the Royal
    Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force
 
.