_#_Note: defense is the responsibility of the Netherlands
_%_
_@_Ashmore and Cartier Islands
(territory of Australia)
_*_Geography
_#_Total area: 5 km2; land area: 5 km2; includes Ashmore Reef (West,
Middle, and East Islets) and Cartier Island

_#_Comparative area: about 8.5 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC

_#_Land boundaries: none

_#_Coastline: 74.1 km

_#_Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 12 nm;

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploration;

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 3 nm

_#_Climate: tropical

_#_Terrain: low with sand and coral

_#_Natural resources: fish

_#_Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and
pastures 0%; forest and woodland 0%; other--grass and sand 100%

_#_Environment: surrounded by shoals and reefs; Ashmore Reef National
Nature Reserve established in August 1983

_#_Note: located in extreme eastern Indian Ocean between Australia
and Indonesia 320 km off the northwest coast of Australia

_*_People
_#_Population: no permanent inhabitants; seasonal caretakers

_*_Government
_#_Long-form name: Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands

_#_Type: territory of Australia administered by the Australian
Ministry for Territories and Local Government

_#_Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)

_#_Legal system: relevant laws of the Northern Territory of Australia

_#_Note: administered by the Australian Minister for Arts, Sports, the
Environment, Tourism, and Territories Roslyn KELLY

_#_Diplomatic representation: none (territory of Australia)

_*_Economy
_#_Overview: no economic activity

_*_Communications
_#_Ports: none; offshore anchorage only

_*_Defense Forces
_#_Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia; periodic
visits by the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force
_%_
_@_Atlantic Ocean
_*_Geography
_#_Total area: 82,217,000 km2; includes Baltic Sea, Black Sea,
Caribbean Sea, Davis Strait, Denmark Strait, Drake Passage, Gulf of
Mexico, Mediterranean Sea, North Sea, Norwegian Sea, Weddell Sea, and
other tributary water bodies

_#_Comparative area: slightly less than nine times the size of the US;
second-largest of the world's four oceans (after the Pacific Ocean, but
larger than Indian Ocean or Arctic Ocean)

_#_Coastline: 111,866 km

_#_Climate: tropical cyclones (hurricanes) develop off the coast of
Africa near Ca