Cocos (Keeling) Islands: Geography#
Location | Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, southwest of Indonesia, about halfway between Australia and Sri Lanka |
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Geographic Coordinates | 12 30 S, 96 50 E -12.5,96.833336 |
Land boundaries | 0 km |
Coastline | 26 km |
Elevation Extremes | lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 5 m |
Highest Mountains | |
Terrain | flat, low-lying coral atolls |
Natural Hazards | cyclone season is October to April |
Natural Resource | fish |
Land Use | arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2011) |
Climate | tropical with high humidity, moderated by the southeast trade winds for about nine months of the year |
Irrigated Land | NA |
Renewable Water Resources | NA |
Environment_CurrentIssues | freshwater resources are limited to rainwater accumulations in natural underground reservoirs |
Environment - international agreements | NA |
Large Cities | |
Geography-note | islands are thickly covered with coconut palms and other vegetation; site of a World War I naval battle in November 1914 between the Australian light cruiser HMAS Sydney and the German raider SMS Emden; after being heavily damaged in the engagement, the Emden was beached by her captain on North Keeling Island |