8
telephones; broadcast stations - 4 AM, 4 FM, 1 TV; 1 submarine cable
to Saint Maarten

@Aruba, Defense Forces

Note:
defense is the responsibility of the Netherlands

@Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Header
Affiliation:
(territory of Australia)

@Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Geography

Location:
Southeastern Asia, 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 sq km
land area:
5 sq km
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 sq km
Environment:
current issues:
NA
natural hazards:
surrounded by shoals and reefs
international agreements:
NA
Note:
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 the
Environment, Sport, 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;