The Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands are two groups of small low-lying uninhabited tropical islands in the Indian Ocean situated north-west of Australia and south of Indonesia at 12°14'S, 123°5'E. They include Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) and Cartier Island , and total five km². While they have a total of 74.1 km of shoreline, there are no ports or harbors, only offshore anchorage.

They are part of the Australian Northern Territory, and are administered from Canberra by the Australian Department of the Environment, Sport, and Territories. Their data code is AT. Defense is the responsibility of Australia; periodic visits by the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force; the islands are visited by seasonal caretakers. The Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983. There is no economic activity in the Territory.

External link

• Cartier Island Marine Reserve http://ea.gov.au/coasts/mpa/cartier/
• CIA - The World Factbook -- Ashmore and Cartier Islands http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/at.html - CIA's Factbook on Ashmore and Cartier Islands