_#_Climate: tropical
_#_Terrain: sand and coral reefs and islands (or cays)
_#_Natural resources: negligible
_#_Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 0%; other, mostly grass or scrub cover 100%;
Lihou Reef Reserve and Coringa-Herald Reserve were declared National
Nature Reserves on 3 August 1982
_#_Environment: subject to occasional tropical cyclones; no permanent
fresh water; important nesting area for birds and turtles
_#_Note: the islands are located just off the northeast coast of
Australia in the Coral Sea
_*_People
_#_Population: 3 meteorologists (1991)
_*_Government
_#_Long-form name: Coral Sea Islands Territory
_#_Type: territory of Australia administered by the Minister for
Arts, Sport, the Environment, Tourism, and Territories Roslyn
KELLY
_#_Flag: the flag of Australia is used
_*_Economy
_#_Overview: no economic activity
_*_Communications
_#_Ports: none; offshore anchorages only
_*_Defense Forces
_#_Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia; visited regularly
by the Royal Australian Navy; Australia has control over the activities
of visitors
_%_
_@_Costa Rica
_*_Geography
_#_Total area: 51,100 km2; land area: 50,660 km2; includes Isla del
Coco
_#_Comparative area: slightly smaller than West Virginia
_#_Land boundaries: 639 km total; Nicaragua 309 km, Panama 330 km
_#_Coastline: 1,290 km
_#_Maritime claims:
Continental shelf: 200 nm;
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;