Location:
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:
Southeast Asia
Area: Area - comparative: Land boundaries: Coastline: Maritime claims: Climate: Terrain: Elevation: Natural resources: Land use: Irrigated land: Population - distribution: Natural hazards: Environment - current issues: Geography - note:
total: 14 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 14 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 0 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
note: includes the two main islands of West Island and Home Island
country comparison to the world: 243
about 24 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
0 km
26 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]
territorial sea: 12 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - territorial sea country ranks ]
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - exclusive fishing zone country ranks ]
tropical with high humidity, moderated by the southeast trade winds for about nine months of the year
flat, low-lying coral atolls
mean elevation: NA
[see also: Elevation - mean elevation country ranks ]
elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: South Point on South Island 9 m
fish
agricultural land: 0%
arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 0%
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
forest: 0%
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 100% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - other country ranks ]
NA
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]
only Home Island and West Island are populated
cyclone season is October to April
freshwater resources are limited to rainwater accumulations in natural underground reservoirs
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