*Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Geography

Location:
  in the Indian Ocean, 320 km off the northwest coast of Australia, between
  Australia and Indonesia
Map references:
  Oceania, Southeast Asia
Area:
 total area:
  5 km2
 land area:
  5 km2
 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 exploration
 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 km2
Environment:
  surrounded by shoals and reefs; 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 Arts,
  Sports, the Environment, Tourism, 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)

*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