Ashmore

Background of Ashmore

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. Cartier Island, a former bombing range, became a marine reserve in 2000.

Geography of Ashmore

• Location: Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean, midway between northwestern Australia and Timor island

• Geographic coordinates: 12 14 S, 123 05 E

• Map references: Oceania

• Area:

total: 5 sq km

country comparison to the world: 247

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:

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 12 nm

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

• 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%

other: 100% (all grass and sand) (2011)

• Natural hazards: surrounded by shoals and reefs that can pose maritime hazards

• Environment - current issues: illegal killing of protected wildlife by traditional Indonesian fisherman, as well as fishing by non-traditional Indonesian vessels, are ongoing problems

• Geography - note: Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983; Cartier Island Marine Reserve established in 2000

People and Society of Ashmore

• Population: no indigenous inhabitants

note: Indonesian fishermen are allowed access to the lagoon and fresh water at Ashmore Reef's West Island; access to East and Middle Islands is by permit only.

Government of Ashmore

• 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 by the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport

• Legal system: the laws of the Commonwealth of Australia and the laws of the Northern Territory of Australia, where applicable, apply

Diplomatic representation in the US:

• none (territory of Australia)
• Diplomatic representation from the US:

• none (territory of Australia)

Military of Ashmore

note: defense is the responsibility of Australia; periodic visits by the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force

Transnational Issues of Ashmore

Disputes - international: Australia has closed parts of the Ashmore and Cartier reserve to Indonesian traditional fishing; Indonesian groups challenge Australia's claim to Ashmore Reef

Disclaimer

This is not the official site of this country. Most of the information in this site were taken from the U.S. Department of State, The Central Intelligence Agency, The United Nations, [1],[2], [3], [4], [5],[6], [7], [8], [9], [10], [11], [12], [13], [14],[15], [16], [17], [18], [19], [20], [21], [22], [23], [24],[25], [26], [27], [28], [29], [30],[31], [32], [33], [34], and the [35].

Other sources of information will be mentioned as they are posted.