SELECT EDITION
CATEGORIES
◆ COMMUNICATIONS(1 fields)
Ports
none; offshore anchorage only
◆ DEFENSE FORCES(1 fields)
Note
defense is the responsibility of Australia; periodic visits by the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force
◆ ECONOMY(1 fields)
Overview
no economic activity
◆ GEOGRAPHY(13 fields)
Area
total area: 5 km2 land area: 5 km2 comparative area: about 8.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC note: includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) and Cartier Island
Climate
tropical
Coastline
74.1 km
Environment
surrounded by shoals and reefs; Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983
International disputes
none
Irrigated land
0 km2
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100% (all grass and sand)
Location
in the Indian Ocean, 320 km off the northwest coast of Australia, between Australia and Indonesia
Map references
Oceania, Southeast Asia
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
Natural resources
fish
Terrain
low with sand and coral
◆ GOVERNMENT(9 fields)
Administrative divisions
none (territory of Australia)
Capital
none; administered from Canberra, Australia
Digraph
AT
Diplomatic representation in US
none (territory of Australia)
Independence
none (territory of Australia)
Legal system
relevant laws of the Northern Territory of Australia
Names
conventional long form: Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands conventional short form: Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Type
territory of Australia administered by the Australian Ministry for Arts, Sports, the Environment, Tourism, and Territories
US diplomatic representation
none (territory of Australia)
◆ PEOPLE(1 fields)
Population
no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are only seasonal caretakers