Coral Sea Islands Geography Profile 2007

Location

Oceania, islands in the Coral Sea, northeast of Australia

Geographic coordinates

18 00 S, 152 00 E

Map references

Oceania

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

Area - comparative

NA

Land boundaries

0 km

Coastline

3,095 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate

tropical

Terrain

sand and coral reefs and islands (or cays)

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Cato Island 6 m

Natural resources

NEGL

Land use

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (mostly grass or scrub cover) (2005)

Irrigated land

0 sq km

Natural hazards

occasional tropical cyclones

Environment - current issues

no permanent fresh water resources

Geography - note

important nesting area for birds and turtles