Ashmore and Cartier Islands Geography Profile 2013

Location

Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean, midway between northwestern Australia and Timor island

Geographic coordinates

12 14 S, 123 05 E

Map references

Southeast Asia

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

Area - comparative

about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries

0 km

Coastline

74.1 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate

tropical

Terrain

low with sand and coral

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 3 m

Natural resources

fish

Land use

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (all grass and sand) (2005)

Irrigated land

0 sq km

Natural hazards

surrounded by shoals and reefs that can pose maritime hazards

Environment - current issues

illegal killing of protected wildlife by traditional Indonesian fisherman, as well as fishing by non-traditional Indonesian vessels, are ongoing problems

Geography - note

Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983; Cartier Island Marine Reserve established in 2000