Coral Sea Islands (2004) | Paracel Islands (2008) | |
Airports | - | 1 (2007) |
Airports - with paved runways | - | total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007) |
Area | total: less than 3 sq km
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 |
total: NA sq km
land: NA sq km water: 0 sq km |
Area - comparative | NA | NA |
Background | Scattered over some 1 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. | 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. China built a military installation on Mischief Reef in 1999. The islands are claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam. |
Climate | tropical | tropical |
Coastline | 3,095 km | 518 km |
Country name | conventional long form: Coral Sea Islands Territory
conventional short form: Coral Sea Islands |
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Paracel Islands |
Dependency status | territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the 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: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Cato Island 6 m |
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m |
Environment - current issues | no permanent fresh water resources | NA |
Executive branch | administered from Canberra by the Department of the Environment, Sport, and Territories | - |
Flag description | the flag of Australia is used | - |
Geographic coordinates | 18 00 S, 152 00 E | 16 30 N, 112 00 E |
Geography - note | important nesting area for birds and turtles | composed of 130 small coral islands and reefs divided into the northeast Amphitrite Group and the western Crescent Group |
Irrigated land | 0 sq km (1998 est.) | 0 sq km |
Land boundaries | 0 km | 0 km |
Land use | arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (mostly grass or scrub cover) (2001) |
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005) |
Legal system | the laws of Australia, where applicable, apply | - |
Location | Oceania, islands in the Coral Sea, northeast 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 | Oceania | Southeast Asia |
Maritime claims | territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm |
NA |
Military - note | defense is the responsibility of Australia; visited regularly by the Royal Australian Navy; Australia has control over the activities of visitors | occupied by China |
Natural hazards | occasional tropical cyclones | typhoons |
Natural resources | NEGL | none |
Population | no indigenous inhabitants
note: there is a staff of three to four at the meteorological station (2004 est.) |
no indigenous inhabitants
note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons |
Ports and harbors | none; offshore anchorage only | - |
Terrain | sand and coral reefs and islands (or cays) | mostly low and flat |