Compare Ashmore and Cartier Islands (2001) - Paracel Islands (2004)

Compare Ashmore and Cartier Islands (2001) z Paracel Islands (2004)

	Ashmore and Cartier Islands (2001)	Paracel Islands (2004)

Airports	-	1 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways	-	total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Area	total: 5 sq km land: 5 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) and Cartier Island	total: NA sq km land: NA sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative	about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC	NA
Background	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. Recent geological explorations have indicated promising petroleum formations.	The Paracel Islands are surrounded by productive fishing grounds and by potential oil and gas reserves. In 1932, French Indochina annexed the islands and set up a weather station on Pattle Island; maintenance was continued by its successor, Vietnam. China has occupied the Paracel Islands since 1974, when its troops seized a South Vietnamese garrison occupying the western islands. The islands are claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam.
Climate	tropical	tropical
Coastline	74.1 km	518 km
Country name	conventional long form: Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands conventional short form: Ashmore and Cartier Islands	conventional long form: none conventional short form: Paracel Islands
Dependency status	territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Department of the Environment, Sport, and Territories	-
Diplomatic representation from the US	none (territory of Australia)	-
Diplomatic representation in the US	none (territory of Australia)	-
Disputes - international	none	occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam
Economy - overview	no economic activity	China announced plans in 1997 to open the islands for tourism.
Elevation extremes	lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 3 m	lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m
Environment - current issues	NA	NA
Flag description	the flag of Australia is used	-
Geographic coordinates	12 14 S, 123 05 E	16 30 N, 112 00 E
Geography - note	Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983	composed of 130 small coral islands and reefs divided into the northeast Amphitrite Group and the western Crescent Group
Irrigated land	0 sq km (1993)	0 sq km (1998 est.)
Land boundaries	0 km	0 km
Land use	arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (all grass and sand)	arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2001)
Legal system	the laws of the Northern Territory of Australia, where applicable, apply	-
Location	Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean, northwest of Australia	Southeastern Asia, group of small islands and reefs in the South China Sea, about one-third of the way from central Vietnam to the northern Philippines
Map references	Southeast Asia	Southeast Asia
Maritime claims	contiguous zone: 12 NM continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 3 NM	NA
Military - note	defense is the responsibility of Australia; periodic visits by the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force	occupied by China
Natural hazards	surrounded by shoals and reefs that can pose maritime hazards	typhoons
Natural resources	fish	none
Population	no indigenous inhabitants note: there are only seasonal caretakers (July 2001 est.)	no indigenous inhabitants note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons (July 2004 est.)
Ports and harbors	none; offshore anchorage only	small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island being expanded
Terrain	low with sand and coral	mostly low and flat
Waterways	none	-

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