"text":"Scattered over more than three-quarters of a million square kilometers of ocean, the Coral Sea Islands were declared a territory of Australia in 1969. They are uninhabited except for a small meteorological staff on the Willis Islets. Automated weather stations, beacons, and a lighthouse occupy many other islands and reefs. The Coral Sea Islands Act 1969 was amended in 1997 to extend the boundaries of the Coral Sea Islands Territory around Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs."
}
},
"Geography":{
"Location":{
"text":"Oceania, islands in the Coral Sea, northeast of Australia"
},
"Geographic coordinates":{
"text":"18 00 S, 152 00 E"
},
"Map references":{
"text":"Oceania"
},
"Area":{
"total":{
"text":"3 sq km less than"
},
"land":{
"text":"3 sq km less than"
},
"water":{
"text":"0 sq km"
},
"note":{
"text":"note: includes numerous small islands and reefs scattered over a sea area of about 780,000 sq km (300,000 sq mi) with the Willis Islets the most important"
}
},
"Area - comparative":{
"text":"about four times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC"
},
"Land boundaries":{
"text":"0 km"
},
"Coastline":{
"text":"3,095 km"
},
"Maritime claims":{
"territorial sea":{
"text":"3 nm"
},
"exclusive fishing zone":{
"text":"200 nm"
}
},
"Climate":{
"text":"tropical"
},
"Terrain":{
"text":"sand and coral reefs and islands (cays)"
},
"Elevation":{
"lowest point":{
"text":"Pacific Ocean 0 m"
},
"highest point":{
"text":"unnamed location on Cato Island 9 m"
}
},
"Natural resources":{
"text":"fish"
},
"Land use":{
"agricultural land":{
"text":"0% (2011 est.)"
},
"arable land / permanent crops / permanent pasture":{