r scrub cover) (2005)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km

Natural hazards:

occasional tropical cyclones

Environment - current issues:

no permanent fresh water resources

Geography - note:

important nesting area for birds and turtles

People
Coral Sea Islands

Population:

no indigenous inhabitants
note: there is a staff of three to four at the meteorological
station on Willis Island (July 2007 est.)

Government
Coral Sea Islands

Country name:

conventional long form: Coral Sea Islands Territory
conventional short form: Coral Sea Islands

Dependency status:

territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian
Attorney-General's Department

Legal system:

the laws of Australia, where applicable, apply

Executive branch:

administered from Canberra by the Australian Attorney-General's
Department

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (territory of Australia)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (territory of Australia)

Flag description:

the flag of Australia is used

Economy
Coral Sea Islands

Economy - overview:

no economic activity

Communications
Coral Sea Islands

Communications - note:

there are automatic weather stations on many of the isles and reefs
relaying data to the mainland

Transportation
Coral Sea Islands

Ports and terminals:

none; offshore anchorage only

Military
Coral Sea Islands

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of Australia

Transnational Issues
Coral Sea Islands

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Costa Rica

Introduction
Costa Rica

Background:

Although explored by the Spanish early in the 16th century, initial
attempts at colonizing Costa Rica proved unsuccessful due to a
combination of factors, including: disease from mosquito-infested
swamps, brutal heat, resistance by natives, and pirate raids. It was
not until 1563 that a permanent settlement of Cartago was
established in the cooler, fertile central highlands. The area
remained a colony for some two and a half centuries. In 1821, Costa
Rica became one of several Central American provinces that jointly
declared their independence from Spain. Two years later it joined
the United Provinces of Central America, but this fede