Ashmore and Cartier Islands (2001) | Paracel Islands (2005) | |
Airports | - | 1 (2004 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, also 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 |
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 | - |