Part 209

Highways: total: 187 km paved: 35 km unpaved: 152 km (1980 est.)

Ports and harbors: Avarua, Avatiu

Merchant marine: total : 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,464 GRT/2,181 DWT (1996 est.)

Airports: 7 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways: total : 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1996 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1996 est.)

Military

Military - note: defense is the responsibility of New Zealand

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: none ______________________________________________________________________

CORAL SEA ISLANDS

(territory of Australia)

@Coral Sea Islands:Geography

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 land: less than 3 sq km water : 0 sq km note: includes numerous small islands and reefs scattered over a sea area of about 1 million sq km, with the Willis Islets the most important

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% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (mostly grass or scrub cover)

Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)

Natural hazards: occasional, tropical cyclones