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:
Oceania
Area:
Area - comparative: Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline: Maritime claims:
Climate: Terrain: Elevation extremes:
Natural resources: Land use:
Natural hazards: Environment - current issues: Geography - note:
total:
5 sq km
country comparison to the world: 247
land:
5 sq km
water:
0 sq km
note:
includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) and Cartier Island
about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
[see also: Land boundaries country ranks ]
74.1 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]
territorial sea:
12 nm
contiguous zone:
12 nm
exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
continental shelf:
200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
tropical
low with sand and coral
lowest point:
Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point:
unnamed location 3 m
fish
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
other:
100% (all grass and sand) (2011)
surrounded by shoals and reefs that can pose maritime hazards
illegal killing of protected wildlife by traditional Indonesian fisherman, as well as fishing by non-traditional Indonesian vessels, are ongoing problems
Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983; Cartier Island Marine Reserve established in 2000