Short facts about the geography of Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Location:

Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia, about one-half of the way 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:

2.6 km

Maritime claims:

exclusive fishing zone:  200 NM territorial sea:  3 NM

Climate:

pleasant, modified by the southeast trade winds for about nine months of the year; moderate rainfall

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% permanent pastures:  0% forests and woodland:  0% other:  100% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land:

NA sq km

Natural hazards:

cyclones may occur in the early months of the year

Environment - current issues:

fresh water resources are limited to rainwater accumulations in natural underground reservoirs

Geography - note:

two coral atolls thickly covered with coconut palms and other vegetation

Source: World Factbook