Geography of Cocos Islands
Location: | Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, southwest of Indonesia, about halfway from Australia to Sri Lanka |
Geographic coordinates: | 12 30 S, 96 50 E |
Map references: | Southeast Asia |
Area: | total: 14 sq km land: 14 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes the two main islands of West Island and Home Island |
Area - comparative: | about 24 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC |
Land boundaries: | 0 km |
Coastline: | 26 km |
Maritime claims: | territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm |
Climate: | tropical with high humidity, moderated by the southeast trade winds for about nine months of the year |
Terrain: | flat, low-lying coral atolls |
Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 5 m |
Natural resources: | fish |
Land use: | arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005) |
Irrigated land: | NA |
Natural hazards: | cyclone season is October to April |
Environment - current issues: | fresh water resources are limited to rainwater accumulations in natural underground reservoirs |
Geography - note: | islands are thickly covered with coconut palms and other vegetation |