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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. |
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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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Area:
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total: 135
sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 135 sq km |
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Climate:
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tropical with a wet and dry season; heat
and humidity moderated by trade winds; wet season December to April
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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 (2001) |
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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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Geography - note:
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located along major sea lanes of Indian
Ocean |
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Population:
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396 (July 2004 est.) |
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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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People - note:
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The Australian Bureau of Statistics
reports a population of 1508 as of the 2001 Census |
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Dependency status:
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territory of Australia; administered by
the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services |
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Legal system:
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under the authority of the governor
general of Australia and Australian law |
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Economy - overview:
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Phosphate mining had been the only
significant economic activity, but in December 1987 the Australian
Government closed the mine. In 1991, the mine was reopened. With the
support of the government, a $34 million casino opened in 1993. The casino
closed in 1998. The Australian Government in 2001 agreed to support the
creation of a commercial space-launching site on the island, projected to
begin operations in mid-2004 |
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Exports - commodities:
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phosphate |
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Imports - commodities:
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consumer goods |
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Imports - partners:
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principally Australia |
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Exchange rates:
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Australian dollars per US dollar -
1.5419 (2003), 1.9354 (2002), 1.9320 (2001), 1.7173(2000), 1.5497 (1999)
|
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Telephone system:
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general assessment:
service provided by the Australian network
domestic: only analog mobile telephone service is available
international: country code - 61; satellite earth stations - one
Intelsat earth station provides telephone and telex service (2000)
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004)
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Ports and harbors:
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Flying Fish Cove |
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Merchant marine:
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none |
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Airports:
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1 (2003 est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2003 est.) |
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Military - note:
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defense is the responsibility of
Australia |
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