Ashmore and Cartier Islands:
Geography

Other pages in this profile of the Ashmore and Cartier Islands:
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.


Background	Definition 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.

Location	Definition Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean, midway between northwestern Australia and Timor island
Geographic coordinates	Definition 12 14 S, 123 05 E
Map references	Definition Southeast Asia
Area	Definition - World rank and map 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	Definition about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries	Definition 0 km
Coastline	Definition 74.1 km
Maritime claims	Definition 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	Definition tropical
Terrain	Definition low with sand and coral
Elevation extremes	Definition lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 3 m
Natural resources	Definition fish
Land use	Definition - World rank and map arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (all grass and sand) (2005)
Irrigated land	Definition 0 sq km
Natural hazards	Definition surrounded by shoals and reefs that can pose maritime hazards
Environment - current issues	Definition NA
Geography - note	Definition Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983

Ashmore and Cartier Islands: Geography

Ashmore and Cartier Islands:
Geography