The Ashmore and Cartier Islands are uninhabited islands that came under Australian authority in 1931. Formal administration
of the islands began two years later. The Ashmore Reef support a rich and diverse avian and marine habitat. In
1983 it became a National Nature Reserve. Cartier Island, which was once a former bombing ranger, is now a marine reserve!
The Ashmore and Cartier Islands are located in Southeastern Asia. They are made of islands in the Indian Ocean,
northwest of Australia, south of the Indonesian half of Timor island. There is a total five square kilometers of land,
which includes the Asmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) and Cartier Island. There is no surface water on the
Ashmore and Cartier Islands. The Ashmore and Cartier Islands are about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington
D.C.! There is 74.1 kilometers of coastline.
The climate of the Ashmore and Cartier Islands is tropical. The terrain of the Ashmore and Cartier Islands is low
with sand and coral. Like most islets, the lowest point is zero meters, where the Indian Ocean is. The highest
point is three meters, at an unnamed location.
Fish is the natural resource of the Ashmore and Cartier Islands. 100% of the land is used for other, in fact, all
of the Ashmore and Cartier Islands are grass and sand (a 1998 estimate). The main natural hazards of the Ashmore and
Cartier Islands is that it is surrounded by reefs and shoals which can create maritime hazards. On a geography note,
the Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve was established in 1983, in August.
There are no indigenous inhabitants of the Ashmore and Cartier Islands. But Indonesian fisherman are allowed access
to the lagoon and fresh water at Ashmore Reef's West Island (a July 2003 estimate). A problem of the Ashmore and Cartier
Islands is the landing of illegal immigrants that are from Indonesia's Rote Island.
The conventional long form of the Ashmore and Cartier Islands is the Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands.
The conventional short form of the Ashmore and Cartier Islands is the Ashmore and Cartier Islands. The Ashmore and Cartier
Islands is a territory of Australia, which is administered by the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services.
The laws of the Commonwealth of Australia and the laws of the Northern Territory of Australia, where applicable, apply on
the Ashmore and Cartier Islands. The flag of Australia is used has the flag for the Ashmore and Cartier Islands.
There is no economic activity on the Ashmore and Cartier Islands. There are no waterways or ports or harbors. This
means to gain access to the islands you must anchor offshore and get about via a smaller ship.
Defense is the responsibility of Australia. Periodic visits by the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air
Force are common to the Ashmore and Cartier Islands. The main international dispute of the Ashmore and Cartier Islands
is a nationalist group in Indonesia is trying to populate the reefs to assert claims to Indonesia. Australia has moved
to close the reefs because of this to Indonesian traditional fishing. With the closure of the Ashmore and Cartier Islands,
Australia would create a national park while prospecting for hydrocarbons in the general vicinity.
