{
  "Introduction": {
    "Background": {
      "text": "These uninhabited islands came under Australian authority in 1931; formal administration began two years later. Ashmore Reef supports a rich and diverse avian and marine habitat; in 1983, it became a National Nature Reserve. Cartier Island, a former bombing range, became a marine reserve in 2000."
    }
  },
  "Geography": {
    "Location": {
      "text": "Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean, midway between northwestern Australia and Timor island"
    },
    "Geographic coordinates": {
      "text": "12 14 S, 123 05 E"
    },
    "Map references": {
      "text": "Southeast Asia"
    },
    "Area": {
      "total": {
        "text": "5 sq km"
      },
      "land": {
        "text": "5 sq km"
      },
      "water": {
        "text": "0 sq km"
      },
      "note": {
        "text": "includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) and Cartier Island"
      }
    },
    "Area - comparative": {
      "text": "about eight times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC"
    },
    "Land boundaries": {
      "text": "0 km"
    },
    "Coastline": {
      "text": "74.1 km"
    },
    "Maritime claims": {
      "territorial sea": {
        "text": "12 nm"
      },
      "contiguous zone": {
        "text": "12 nm"
      },
      "exclusive fishing zone": {
        "text": "200 nm"
      },
      "continental shelf": {
        "text": "200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation"
      }
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "tropical"
    },
    "Terrain": {
      "text": "low with sand and coral"
    },
    "Elevation": {
      "mean elevation": {
        "text": "NA"
      },
      "elevation extremes": {
        "text": "lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m ++ highest point: unnamed location 3 m"
      }
    },
    "Natural resources": {
      "text": "fish"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "0%"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "0%"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "100% (all grass and sand) (2011 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Natural hazards": {
      "text": "surrounded by shoals and reefs that can pose maritime hazards"
    },
    "Environment - current issues": {
      "text": "illegal killing of protected wildlife by traditional Indonesian fisherman, as well as fishing by non-traditional Indonesian vessels, are ongoing problems"
    },
    "Geography - note": {
      "text": "Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983; Cartier Island Marine Reserve established in 2000"
    }
  },
  "People and Society": {
    "Population": {
      "text": "no indigenous inhabitants",
      "note": {
        "text": "Indonesian fishermen are allowed access to the lagoon and fresh water at Ashmore Reef's West Island; access to East and Middle Islands is by permit only"
      }
    }
  },
  "Government": {
    "Country name": {
      "conventional long form": {
        "text": "Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands"
      },
      "conventional short form": {
        "text": "Ashmore and Cartier Islands"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "named after British Captain Samuel ASHMORE, who first sighted his namesake island in 1811, and after the ship Cartier, from which the second island was discovered in 1800"
      }
    },
    "Dependency status": {
      "text": "territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport"
    },
    "Legal system": {
      "text": "the laws of the Commonwealth of Australia and the laws of the Northern Territory of Australia, where applicable, apply"
    },
    "Citizenship": {
      "text": "see Australia"
    },
    "Diplomatic representation in the US": {
      "text": "none (territory of Australia)"
    },
    "Diplomatic representation from the US": {
      "text": "none (territory of Australia)"
    },
    "Flag description": {
      "text": "the flag of Australia is used"
    }
  },
  "Economy": {
    "Economy - overview": {
      "text": "no economic activity"
    }
  },
  "Transportation": {
    "Ports and terminals": {
      "text": "none; offshore anchorage only"
    }
  },
  "Military and Security": {
    "Military - note": {
      "text": "defense is the responsibility of Australia; periodic visits by the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force"
    }
  },
  "Transnational Issues": {
    "Disputes - international": {
      "text": "Australia has closed parts of the Ashmore and Cartier reserve to Indonesian traditional fishing; Indonesian groups challenge Australia's claim to Ashmore Reef"
    }
  }
}