Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands

NASA satellite image of Ashmore Reef
Geography
Location	Indian Ocean
Administration
Commonwealth of Australia
Demographics
Population	0 (1 January 2011)

The Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands is an uninhabited external territory of Australia consisting of four low-lying tropical islands in two separate reefs, and the 12 nautical mile territorial sea generated by the islands. The territory is located in the Indian Ocean situated on the edge of the continental shelf, about 320 km (199 mi) off the northwest coast of Australia and 144 km (89 mi) south of the Indonesian island of Rote.

Ashmore Reef is called Pulau Pasir by Indonesians and it is called Nusa Solokaek in the Rote Island language. Both names have the meaning "sand island".

The Territory comprises Ashmore Reef, which includes West, Middle, and East Islands, and two lagoons, and Cartier Reef, which includes Cartier Island. Ashmore Reef covers approximately 150 km² (57.9 sq mi) and Cartier Reef 9 km² (3 sq mi), both to the limits of the reefs. They have a total of 74.1 km (46 mi) of shoreline, measured along the outer edge of the reef. Australia also claims a 12 nautical mile territorial sea generated by the islands.

West, Middle, and East Islands have a combined land area variously reported as 54 ha, 93 ha, and 112 ha (1 hectare is 0.01 km², or about 2.5 acres). Cartier Island has a reported land area of 0.4 ha.

By a British Order-in-council dated 23 July 1931, Ashmore and Cartier Islands were placed under the authority of the Commonwealth of Australia, but Australia officially accepted the Territory on 10 May 1934 when the Ashmore and Cartier Islands Acceptance Act 1933 came into operation. The Act authorised the Governor of Western Australia to make Ordinances for the Territory. In July 1938 the Territory was annexed to the Northern Territory, then also administered by the Commonwealth, whose laws, ordinances and regulations applied to the Territory. When self-government was granted to the Northern Territory on 1 July 1978, administration of the Territory was retained by the Commonwealth.