Location Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean, northwest of Australia

Geographic coordinates 12 14 S, 123 05 E

Map references Southeast Asia

Area
total: 5 sq km
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
contiguous zone: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm

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%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (all grass and sand)

Irrigated land 0 sq km (1993)

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

Environment - current issues NA

Environment - international agreements
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA

Geography - note Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983

NOTE: The information regarding Ashmore and Cartier Islands on this page is re-published from the 1998 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Ashmore and Cartier Islands Geography 1998 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Ashmore and Cartier Islands Geography 1998 should be addressed to the CIA.