Ashmore and Cartier Islands Geography - 2004

Location:
Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean, midway between north-western Australia and Timor island

Geographic coordinates:
12 14 S, 123 05 E

Map references:
Southeast Asia

Area:
total: 5 sq km
note: includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) and Cartier Island
water: 0 sq km
land: 5 sq km

Area - comparative:
about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
74.1 km

Maritime claims - as described in UNCLOS 1982 (see Notes and Definitions):
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:
tropical

Terrain:
low with sand and coral

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 3 m

Natural resources:
fish

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (all grass and sand) (1998 est.)

Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
surrounded by shoals and reefs that can pose maritime hazards

Environment - current issues:
NA