Geography of the Cocos Islands
Redirected from Cocos Islands/Geography
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:
Area - comparative:
about 24 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
2.6 km
Maritime claims:
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:
Natural resources:
fish
Land use:
Irrigated land:
NA km²
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.
There is a Cocos Island or Isla del Coco in the Pacific Ocean that belongs to Costa Rica and not to be confused with these Cocos Islands.
total:
14 km²
land:
14 km²
water:
0 km²
note:
includes the two main islands of West Island and Home Island
exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
3 nm
lowest point:
Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point:
unnamed location 5 m
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
permanent pastures:
0%
forests and woodland:
0%
other:
100% (1993 est.)