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ASHMORE AND CARTIER ISLANDS

 (territory of Australia) 

@Ashmore And Cartier Islands:Geography

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

 Map references: Southeast Asia

 Area:
 total area: 5 sq km
 land area: 5 sq km
 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

 Land boundaries: 0 km

 Coastline: 74.1 km

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

 International disputes: none

 Climate: tropical

 Terrain: low with sand and coral

 Natural resources: fish

 Land use:
 arable land: 0%
 permanent crops: 0%
 meadows and pastures: 0%
 forest and woodland: 0%
 other: 100% (all grass and sand)

 Irrigated land: 0 sq km

 Environment:
 current issues: NA
 natural hazards: surrounded by shoals and reefs which can pose
 maritime hazards
 international agreements: NA

 Note: Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983

@Ashmore And Cartier Islands:People

 Population: no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are only seasonal
 caretakers

@Ashmore And Cartier Islands:Government

 Names:
 conventional long form: Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands
 conventional short form: Ashmore and Cartier Islands

 Digraph: AT

 Type: territory of Australia administered by the Australian Ministry
 for the Environment, Sport, and Territories

 Capital: none; administered from Canberra, Australia

 Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)

 Independence: none (territory of Australia)

 Legal system: relevant laws of the Northern Territory of Australia

 Diplomatic representation in US: none (territory of Australia)

 US diplomatic representation: none (territory of Australia)

Economy

 Overview: no economic activity

@Ashmore And Cartier Islands:Transportation

 Ports: none; offshore anchorage only

@Ashmore And Cartier Islands:Defense Forces

 Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia; periodic visits by
 the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force


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