Ashmore and Cartier Islands Geography - 2024

Location

Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean, midway between northwestern Australia and Timor island; Ashmore Reef is 840 km west of Darwin and 610 km north of Broome; Cartier Islet is 70 km east of Ashmore Reef

Geographic coordinates

12 25 S, 123 20 E

note - Ashmore Reef - 12 14 S, 123 05 E; Cartier Islet - 12 32 S, 123 32 E

Map references

Southeast Asia

Area

total: 5 sq km

land: 5 sq km

water: 0 sq km

note: includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) and Cartier Island

Area - comparative

about eight times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries

total: 0 km

Coastline

74.1 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate

tropical

Terrain

low with sand and coral

Elevation

highest point: Cartier Island 5 m

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m

Natural resources

fish

Land use

agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.)

Natural hazards

surrounded by shoals and reefs that can pose maritime hazards

Geography - note

Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983; Cartier Island Marine Reserve established in 2000