ropical cyclones; no permanent fresh water; important
nesting area for birds and turtles

*Coral Sea Islands, People

Population:
no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are 3 meteorologists

*Coral Sea Islands, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
Coral Sea Islands Territory
conventional short form:
Coral Sea Islands
Digraph:
CR
Type:
territory of Australia administered by the Ministry for Arts, Sport, the
Environment, Tourism, and Territories
Capital:
none; administered from Canberra, Australia
Independence:
none (territory of Australia)
Flag:
the flag of Australia is used

*Coral Sea Islands, Economy

Overview:
no economic activity

*Coral Sea Islands, Communications

Ports:
none; offshore anchorages only

*Coral Sea Islands, Defense Forces

Note:
defense is the responsibility of Australia; visited regularly by the Royal
Australian Navy; Australia has control over the activities of visitors

*Costa Rica, Geography

Location:
Central America, between Nicaragua and Panama
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean, South America
Area:
total area:
51,100 km2
land area:
50,660 km2
comparative area:
slightly smaller than West Virginia
note:
includes Isla del Coco
Land boundaries:
total 639 km, Nicaragua 309 km, Panama 330 km
Coastline:
1,290 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf:
200 nm
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November)
Terrain:
coastal plains separated by rugged mountains
Natural resources:
hydropower potential
Land use:
arable land:
6%
permanent crops:
7%
meadows and pastures:
45%
forest and woodland:
34%
other:
8%
Irrigated land:
1,180 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
subject to occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent
flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season; active volcanoes;
deforestation; soil erosion

*Costa Rica, People

Population:
3,264,776 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.38% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
26.07 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
3.57 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
1.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
11.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total populati