2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2000 est.)

Aruba Military

Military branches: Royal Dutch Navy and Marines, Coast Guard

Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the
Netherlands

Aruba Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: none

Illicit drugs: drug-money-laundering center and transit point for
narcotics bound for the US and Europe

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@Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Ashmore and Cartier Islands Introduction

Background: These uninhabited islands came under Australian
authority in 1931; formal administration began two years later.
Ashmore Reef supports a rich and diverse avian and marine habitat;
in 1983 it became a National Nature Reserve. Recent geological
explorations have indicated promising petroleum formations.

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

Ashmore and Cartier Islands People

Population: no indigenous inhabitants

note: there are only seasonal caretakers (July 2001 est.)

Ashmore and Cartier Islands Government

Country name: conventional long form: Territory of Ashmore and
Cartier Islands

conventional short form: Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Dependency status: territory of Australia; administered from
Canberra