Ashmore and Cartier Islands/Geography

Location: Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean, northwest of Australia

Geographic coordinates: 12 14 S, 123 05 E

Map references: Southeast Asia

Area:

• 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: about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 74.1 km

Maritime claims:

• contiguous zone: 12 nm
• continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
• exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
• territorial sea: 3 nm

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%
• permanent pastures: 0%
• forests and woodland: 0%
• other: 100% (all grass and sand)

Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)

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

Environment - current issues: NA

Geography - note: Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983