Background: Scattered over some 1 million square kilometers of ocean the Coral Sea Islands were declared a territory of Australia in 1969. They are uninhabited except for a small meteorological staff on Willis Island. Automated weather stations beacons and a lighthouse occupy many other islands and reefs.
Area Total: total area: less than 3 km²; land area: less than 3 km²; comparative area: NA; note:includes numerous small islands and reefs scattered over a sea area of about 1 million km², with Willis Islets the most important
Geography Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia; visited regularly by the Royal Australian Navy; Australia has control over the activities of visitors