Ashmore and Cartier Islands Geography Profile 2000

Location

Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean, northwest of Australia

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

contiguous zone:12 nm
continental shelf:200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone:200 nm
territorial sea:3 nm

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%
permanent pastures:0%
forests and woodland:0%
other:100% (all grass and sand)

Irrigated land

0 sq km (1993)

Natural hazards

surrounded by shoals and reefs that can pose maritime hazards

Environment - current issues

NA

Geography - note

Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983