Baker Island (2001) | Ashmore and Cartier Islands (2003) | |
Airports | 1 abandoned World War II runway of 1,665 m, completely covered with vegetation and unusable (2000 est.) | - |
Area | total:
1.4 sq km land: 1.4 sq km water: 0 sq km |
total: 5 sq km
land: 5 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) and Cartier Island |
Area - comparative | about 2.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC | about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC |
Background | The US took possession of the island in 1857, and its guano deposits were mined by US and British companies during the second half of the 19th century. In 1935, a short-lived attempt at colonization was begun on this island - as well as on nearby Howland Island - but was disrupted by World War II and thereafter abandoned. Presently the island is a National Wildlife Refuge run by the US Department of the Interior; a day beacon is situated near the middle of the west coast. | 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. Cartier Island, a former bombing range, is now a marine reserve. |
Climate | equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun | tropical |
Coastline | 4.8 km | 74.1 km |
Country name | conventional long form:
none conventional short form: Baker Island |
conventional long form: Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands
conventional short form: Ashmore and Cartier Islands |
Dependency status | unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington, DC, by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system | territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services |
Diplomatic representation from the US | - | none (territory of Australia) |
Diplomatic representation in the US | - | none (territory of Australia) |
Disputes - international | none | nationalist group in Indonesia reportedly seeks to populate reefs to assert claims; Australia has moved to close reefs to Indonesian traditional fishing and to create a national park while prospecting for hydrocarbons in the vicinity |
Economy - overview | no economic activity | no economic activity |
Elevation extremes | lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 8 m |
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 3 m |
Environment - current issues | no natural fresh water resources | NA |
Flag description | the flag of the US is used | the flag of Australia is used |
Geographic coordinates | 0 13 N, 176 31 W | 12 14 S, 123 05 E |
Geography - note | treeless, sparse, and scattered vegetation consisting of grasses, prostrate vines, and low growing shrubs; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife | Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983 |
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% |
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (all grass and sand) (1998 est.) |
Legal system | the laws of the US, where applicable, apply | the laws of the Commonwealth of Australia and the laws of the Northern Territory of Australia, where applicable, apply |
Location | Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia | Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean, northwest of Australia, south of the Indonesian half of Timor island |
Map references | Oceania | Southeast Asia |
Maritime claims | exclusive economic zone:
200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM |
contiguous zone: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM |
Military - note | defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast Guard | defense is the responsibility of Australia; periodic visits by the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force |
Natural hazards | the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard | surrounded by shoals and reefs that can pose maritime hazards |
Natural resources | guano (deposits worked until 1891), terrestrial and aquatic wildlife | fish |
People - note | - | the landing of illegal immigrants from Indonesia's Rote Island has become an ongoing problem |
Population | uninhabited
note: American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air and naval attacks during World War II; occupied by US military during World War II, but abandoned after the war; public entry is by special-use permit from US Fish and Wildlife Service only and generally restricted to scientists and educators; a cemetery and remnants of structures from early settlement are located near the middle of the west coast; visited annually by US Fish and Wildlife Service (July 2001 est.) |
no indigenous inhabitants
note: Indonesian fishermen are allowed access to the lagoon and fresh water at Ashmore Reef's West Island (July 2003 est.) |
Ports and harbors | none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one small boat landing area along the middle of the west coast | none; offshore anchorage only |
Terrain | low, nearly level coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef | low with sand and coral |
Waterways | none | none |