| Location | Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean, midway between northwestern Australia and Timor island; Ashmore Reef is 840 km west of Darwin and 610 km north of Broome; Cartier Islet is 70 km east of Ashmore Reef |
| Geographic coordinates | 12 25 S, 123 20 E note - Ashmore Reef - 12 14 S, 123 05 E; Cartier Islet - 12 32 S, 123 32 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 National Mall in Washington, DC |
| Land boundaries | total: 0 km |
| Coastline | 74.1 km |
| Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm |
| Climate | tropical |
| Terrain | low with sand and coral |
| Elevation extremes | highest point: Cartier Island 5 m lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m |
| Natural resources | fish |
| Land use | agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.) |
| Natural hazards | surrounded by shoals and reefs that can pose maritime hazards |
| Geography - note | Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983; Cartier Island Marine Reserve established in 2000 |
Source: CIA World Factbook
This page was last updated on September 18, 2021
