NAVIGATION
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NAVIGATION
Territory of Christmas Island
INTRODUCTION
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Background:
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Named in 1643 for the day of its discovery, the island was annexed and settlement was begun by the UK in 1888. Phosphate mining began in the 1890s. The UK transferred sovereignty to Australia in 1958. Almost two-thirds of the island has been declared a national park. |
GEOGRAPHY
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Location:
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Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia |
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Geographic coordinates:
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10 30 S, 105 40 E |
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Map references:
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Southeast Asia |
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Area:
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total: 135 sq km
water: 0 sq km land: 135 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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80 km |
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Maritime claims:
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contiguous zone: 12 NM
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM |
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Climate:
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tropical; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds |
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Terrain:
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steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Murray Hill 361 m |
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Natural resources:
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phosphate, beaches |
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Land use:
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arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% note: mainly tropical rainforest; 63% of the island is a national park (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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NA sq km |
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Natural hazards:
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the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard |
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Environment - current issues:
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NA |
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Geography - note:
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located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean |
PEOPLE
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Population:
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474 (July 2002 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: NA%
15-64 years: NA% 65 years and over: NA% |
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Population growth rate:
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-9% (2002 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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NA births/1,000 population |
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Death rate:
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NA deaths/1,000 population |
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Net migration rate:
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NA migrant(s)/1,000 population |
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Sex ratio:
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NA |
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Infant mortality rate:
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NA deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: NA years
female: NA years male: NA years |
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Total fertility rate:
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NA children born/woman |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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NA% |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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NA |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA |
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Nationality:
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noun: Christmas Islander(s)
adjective: Christmas Island |
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Ethnic groups:
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Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10%
note: no indigenous population (2001) |
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Religions:
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Buddhist 36%, Muslim 25%, Christian 18%, other 21% (1997) |
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Languages:
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English (official), Chinese, Malay |
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Literacy:
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NA |