The 2003 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

      Fiscal year:

       1 April - 31 March

      Communications Cook Islands

      Telephones - main lines in use:

       5,000 (1997)

      Telephones - mobile cellular:

       0 (1994)

      Telephone system:

       general assessment: NA

       domestic: the individual islands are connected by a combination of

       satellite earth stations, microwave systems, and VHF and HF

       radiotelephone; within the islands, service is provided by small

       exchanges connected to subscribers by open-wire, cable, and

       fiber-optic cable

       international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

      Radio broadcast stations:

       AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)

      Radios:

       14,000 (1997)

      Television broadcast stations:

       2 (plus eight low-power repeaters) (1997)

      Televisions:

       4,000 (1997)

      Internet country code:

       .ck

      Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

       3 (2000)

      Internet users:

       NA

      Transportation Cook Islands

      Railways: 0 km

      Highways: total: 320 km paved: 33 km unpaved: 287 km (2000)

      Waterways:

       none

      Ports and harbors:

       Avarua, Avatiu

      Airports:

       7 (2002)

      Airports - with paved runways:

       total: 1

       1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)

      Airports - with unpaved runways:

       total: 6

       1,524 to 2,437 m: 3

       914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2002)

      Military Cook Islands

      Military - note:

       defense is the responsibility of New Zealand, in consultation with

       the Cook Islands and at its request

      Transnational Issues Cook Islands

      Disputes - international: none

      This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

      ======================================================================

      @Coral Sea Islands

      Introduction Coral Sea Islands

      Background:

       Scattered over some 1 million square kilometers of ocean, the Coral

       Sea Islands were declared a territory of Australia in 1969. They are

       uninhabited except for a small meteorological staff on the Willis

       Islets. Automated weather stations, beacons, and a lighthouse occupy

       many other islands and reefs.

      Geography Coral Sea Islands

      Location:

       Oceania, islands in the Coral Sea, northeast of Australia

      Geographic coordinates:

       18 00 S, 152 00 E

      Map references:

       Oceania

      Area:

       total: less than 3 sq km

       note: includes numerous small islands and reefs scattered over a sea

       area of about 780,000 sq km, with the Willis Islets the most

       important

       water: 0 sq km

       land: less than 3 sq km

      Area - comparative:

       NA

      Land boundaries:

       0 km

      Coastline:

       3,095 km

      Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 3 NM

      Climate:

       tropical

      Terrain:

       sand and coral reefs and islands (or cays)

      Elevation extremes:

       lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

       highest point: unnamed location on Cato Island 6 m

      Natural resources:

       NEGL

      Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (mostly grass or scrub cover) (1998 est.)

      Irrigated land:

       0 sq km (1998 est.)

      Natural hazards:

       occasional tropical cyclones

      Environment - current issues:

       no permanent fresh water resources

      Geography - note:

       important nesting area for birds and turtles

      People Coral Sea Islands

      Population:

       no indigenous inhabitants

       note: there is a staff of three to four at the meteorological

       station (July 2003 est.)

      Government Coral Sea Islands

      Country name:

       conventional long form: Coral Sea Islands Territory

       conventional short form: Coral Sea Islands

      Dependency status:

       territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the

       Department of the Environment, Sport, and Territories

      Legal system:

       the laws of Australia, where applicable, apply

      Executive branch:

       administered from Canberra by the Department of the Environment,

       Sport, and Territories

      Diplomatic representation in the US:

       none (territory of Australia)

      Diplomatic representation from the US:

       none (territory of Australia)

      Flag description:

       the flag of Australia is used

      Economy Coral Sea Islands

      Economy - overview: no economic activity

      Communications Coral Sea Islands

      Communications - note:

       there are automatic weather stations on many of the isles and reefs

       relaying data to the mainland

      Transportation Coral Sea Islands

      Waterways:

       none

      Ports and harbors:

       none; offshore anchorage only

      Military Coral Sea Islands