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GeographyLocation
Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, southwest of Indonesia, about halfway between Australia and Sri Lanka Geographic coordinates
12 30 S, 96 50 E
Map references
Oceania
Area World Ranking: 240
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
Freshwater resources are limited to rainwater accumulations in natural underground reservoirs Geography - note
Islands are thickly covered with coconut palms and other vegetation; site of a World War I naval battle in November 1914 between the Australian light cruiser HMAS Sydney and the German raider SMS Emden; after being heavily damaged in the engagement, the Emden was beached by her captain on North Keeling Island
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Cocos ( Keeling ) Islands [ Australia ] (Australia):
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There are 27 coral islands in the group. Captain William KEELING discovered the islands in 1609, but they remained uninhabited until the 19th century. From the 1820s to 1978, members of the CLUNIE-ROSS family controlled the islands and the copra produced from local coconuts. Annexed by the UK in 1857, the Cocos Islands were transferred to the Australian Government in 1955. The population on the two inhabited islands generally is split between the ethnic Europeans on West Island and the ethnic Malays on Home Island.