The 2002 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

US dollar is used

      Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September

      Communications Northern Mariana Islands

      Telephones - main lines in use: 21,000 (1996)

      Telephones - mobile cellular: 1,200 (1995)

      Telephone system: general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

      Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 1 (1998)

      Radios: NA

      Television broadcast stations: 1 (on Saipan and one station planned for Rota; in addition, two cable services on Saipan provide varied programming from satellite networks) (1997)

      Televisions: NA

      Internet country code: .mp

      Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (2001)

      Internet users: NA

      Transportation Northern Mariana Islands

      Railways: 0 km

      Highways: total: 362 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km (1991)

      Waterways: none

      Ports and harbors: Saipan, Tinian

      Merchant marine: none (2002 est.)

      Airports: 6 (2001)

      Airports - with paved runways: total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2001)

      Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 3 under 914 m: 2 (2001) 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

      Heliports: 1 (2001)

      Military Northern Mariana Islands

      Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US

      Transnational Issues Northern Mariana Islands

      Disputes - international: none

      This page was last updated on 1 January 2002

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      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 Willis Island. 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 2002 est.)

      Population growth rate: NA

      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

      Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Australia; visited regularly by the Royal Australian Navy; Australia has control over the activities of visitors

      Transnational Issues Coral Sea Islands

      Disputes - international: none

      This page was last updated on 1 January 2002

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      Costa Rica

      Introduction Costa Rica

      Background: Costa Rica is a Central American success story: since the late 19th century, only two brief periods of violence have marred its democratic development. Although still a largely agricultural country, it has expanded its economy to include strong technology and tourism sectors. The standard of living is relatively high. Land ownership is widespread.

      Geography Costa Rica

      Location: Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the

       North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama

      Geographic coordinates: 10 00 N, 84 00 W

      Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

      Area: 440 sq km land: Area - comparative: slightly smaller than

       West Virginia

      Land boundaries: total: 639 km border countries: Nicaragua 309 km,

       Panama 330 km

      Coastline: 1,290 km

      Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM

      Climate: tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlands

      Terrain: coastal plains separated by rugged mountains

      Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point:

       Cerro Chirripo 3,810 m

      Natural resources: hydropower

      Land use: arable land: 4% permanent crops: 6% other: 90% (1998 est.)

      Irrigated land: 1,260 sq km (1998 est.)

      Natural