site of intensive hydrocarbon prospecting; certain islands in
the Yalu and Tumen rivers are in an uncontested dispute with North
Korea and a section of boundary around Mount Paektu is considered
indefinite; China seeks to stem illegal migration of tens of
thousands of North Koreans; in 2004, China and Russia divided up the
islands in the Amur, Ussuri, and Argun Rivers, ending a century-old
border dispute; demarcation of the China-Vietnam boundary proceeds
slowly and although the maritime boundary delimitation and fisheries
agreements were ratified in June 2004, implementation has been
delayed; environmentalists in Burma and Thailand remain concerned
about China's construction of hydroelectric dams upstream on the
Nujiang/Salween River in Yunnan Province

Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 299,287 (Vietnam) estimated
30,000-50,000 (North Korea) (2004)

Illicit drugs:
major transshipment point for heroin produced in the Golden
Triangle; growing domestic drug abuse problem; source country for
chemical precursors and methamphetamine

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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@Christmas Island

Introduction Christmas Island

Background:
Named in 1643 for the day of its discovery, the island was annexed
and settlement was begun by the UK in 1888. Phosphate mining began
in the 1890s. The UK transferred sovereignty to Australia in 1958.
Almost two-thirds of the island has been declared a national park.

Geography Christmas Island

Location:
Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia

Geographic coordinates:
10 30 S, 105 40 E

Map references:
Southeast Asia

Area:
total: 135 sq km
land: 135 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:
about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
138.9 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:
tropical with a wet and dry season; heat and humidity moderated by
trade winds; wet season December to April

Terrain:
steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Murray Hill 361 m

Natural resources:
phosphate, beaches

Land use:
arable land: 0%
pe