| 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 | 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 | total: 0 km |
| Coastline | 26 km |
| Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm |
| Climate | tropical with high humidity, moderated by the southeast trade winds for about nine months of the year |
| Terrain | flat, low-lying coral atolls |
| Elevation extremes | highest point: South Point on South Island 9 m lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m |
| Natural resources | fish |
| Land use | agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 0% (2018 est.) other: 100% (2018 est.) |
| Irrigated land | NA |
| Natural hazards | cyclone season is October to April |
| Geography - note | note 1: there are 27 coral islands in the group; apart from North Keeling Island, which lies 30 km north of the main group, the islands form a horseshoe-shaped atoll surrounding a lagoon; North Keeling Island was declared a national park in 1995 and is administered by Parks Australia; the population on the two inhabited islands generally is split between the ethnic Europeans on West Island and the ethnic Malays on Home Island; the islands are thickly covered with coconut palms and other vegetation note 2: 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 |
Source: CIA World Factbook
This page was last updated on September 18, 2021
