Australian National Botanic Gardens
Ashmore and Cartier Islands
The following is the entry for Ashmore and Cartier Islands from the
CIA World Fact Book, 1992 edition.
:Ashmore and Cartier Islands Geography
Total area:
5 km2
Land area:
5 km2; includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) and Cartier
Island
Comparative area:
about 8.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
none
Coastline:
74.1 km
Maritime claims:
Contiguous zone: 12 nm
Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploration
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 3 nm
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 - grass and sand 100%
Environment:
surrounded by shoals and reefs; Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve
established in August 1983
Note:
located in extreme eastern
Indian Ocean
between
Australia and
Indonesia, 320
km off the northwest coast of
Australia
:Ashmore and Cartier Islands People
Population:
no permanent inhabitants; seasonal caretakers
:Ashmore and Cartier Islands Government
Long-form name:
Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Type:
territory of
Australia
administered by the Australian Minister for Arts,
Sports, the Environment, Tourism, and Territories - Roslyn KELLY
Capital:
none; administered from Canberra,
Australia
Administrative divisions:
none (territory of
Australia)
Legal system:
relevant laws of the Northern Territory of
Australia
Diplomatic representation:
none (territory of
Australia)
:Ashmore and Cartier Islands Economy
Overview:
no economic activity
:Ashmore and Cartier Islands Communications
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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Jim Croft