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| Background: | These uninhabited islands came under Australian authority in 1931; formal administration began two years later. Ashmore Reef supports a rich and diverse avian and marine habitat; in 1983, it became a National Nature Reserve. Cartier Island, a former bombing range, is now a marine reserve. |
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| Geography |
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| Location: | Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean, midway between northwestern Australia and Timor island |
| 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: | territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation |
| 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%
other: 100% (all grass and sand) (2005) |
| Irrigated land: | 0 sq km |
| 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 |
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| People |
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| Population: | no indigenous inhabitants
note: Indonesian fishermen are allowed access to the lagoon and fresh water at Ashmore Reef’s West Island |
| People—note: | the landing of illegal immigrants from Indonesia’s Rote Island has become an ongoing problem |
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| Government |
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| Country name: | conventional long form: Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands
conventional short form: Ashmore and Cartier Islands |
| Dependency status: | territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Attorney-General’s Department |
| Legal system: | the laws of the Commonwealth of Australia and the laws of the Northern Territory of Australia, where applicable, apply |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | none (territory of Australia) |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | none (territory of Australia) |
| Flag description: | the flag of Australia is used |
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| Economy |
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| Economy—overview: | no economic activity |
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| Transportation |
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| Ports and terminals: | none; offshore anchorage only |
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| Military |
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| Military—note: | defense is the responsibility of Australia; periodic visits by the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force |
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| Transnational Issues |
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| Disputes—international: | Indonesian groups challenge Australia’s claim to these islands; Australia closed parts of the Ashmore and Cartier Reserve to Indonesian traditional fishing and placed restrictions on certain catches |
