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| Get A Large Static Flag | Christmas Island |
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| Introduction | Christmas Island |
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Background:
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Named in 1643 for day of its discovery, island previously annexed and settlement previously begun by UK in 1888. Phosphate mining began in 1890s. UK transferred sovereignty to Australia in 1958. Almost two-thirds of island has been declared a national park. |
| Geography | Christmas Island |
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Location:
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Southeastern Asia, island in 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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Map references:
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Southeast Asia |
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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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Area - comparative:
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about 0.7 times size of Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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80 km |
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Maritime claims:
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contiguous zone: 12 NM
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM |
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Climate:
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tropical; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds |
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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 island is a national park (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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NA sq km |
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Natural hazards:
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narrow fringing reef surrounding island can be a maritime hazard |
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Environment - current issues:
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NA |
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Geography - note:
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located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean |
| People | Christmas Island |
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Total Population:
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433 (July 2003 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: NA%
15-64 years: NA% 65 years and over: NA% (2003 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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-9% (2003 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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NA births/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Death rate:
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NA deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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NA (2003 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: NA%
male: NA% female: NA% |
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Life Expectancy:
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Population: NA years
male: NA years female: NA years (2003 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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NA children born/woman (2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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NA% |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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NA |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA |
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Nationality:
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noun: Christmas Islander(s)
adjective: Christmas Island |
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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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Literacy:
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NA |
| Government | Christmas Island |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island
conventional short form: Christmas Island |
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Dependency status:
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territory of Australia; administered by Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services |
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Government type:
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NA |
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Capital:
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Settlement |
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Administrative divisions:
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none (territory of Australia) |
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Independence:
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none (territory of Australia) |
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National holiday:
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NA |
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Constitution:
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NA |
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Legal system:
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under authority of governor general of Australia and Australian law |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Australian governor general
head of government: Administrator William Leonard TAYLOR (since 4 February 1999) elections: none; monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by governor general of Australia and represents monarch and Australia |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve one-year terms)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 9 elections: last held NA December 2002 (next to be held NA December 2003) |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court |
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Political parties and leaders:
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none |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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none |
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International organization participation:
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none |
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Diplomatic representation in US:
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none (territory of Australia) |
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Diplomatic representation from US:
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none (territory of Australia) |
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Flag description:
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flag of Australia is used; note - in early 1986, Christmas Island Assembly held a design competition for an island flag, however, winning design has never been formally adopted as official flag of territory |
| Economy | Christmas Island |
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Economy - overview:
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Phosphate mining had been only significant economic activity, but in December 1987 Australian Government closed mine. In 1991, mine previously reopened. With support of government, a $34 million casino opened in 1993. casino closed in 1998. Australian Government in 2001 agreed to support creation of a commercial space-launching site on island, slated to begin operation in 2003. |
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GDP:
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buying power parity - $NA |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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NA% |
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GDP - per capita:
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buying power parity - $NA |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: NA%
industry: NA% services: NA% |
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Population below poverty line:
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NA% |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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NA% |
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Labor force:
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NA |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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tourism 400 people, mining 100 people (1995) |
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Unemployment rate:
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NA% |
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Budget:
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revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, includes capital expenditures of $NA |
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Industries:
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tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion) |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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NA% |
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Electricity - production:
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NA kWh |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA% other: NA% nuclear: NA% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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NA kWh |
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Agriculture - products:
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NA |
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Exports:
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$NA |
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Exports - commodities:
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phosphate |
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Exports - partners:
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Australia, NZ |
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Imports:
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$NA |
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Imports - commodities:
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consumer goods |
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Imports - partners:
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principally Australia |
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Debt - external:
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$NA |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$NA |
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Currency:
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Australian dollar (AUD) |
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Currency code:
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AUD |
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Exchange rates:
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Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.9354 (2002), 1.9320 (2001), 1.7173(2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998) |
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Fiscal year:
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1 July - 30 June |
| Communications | Christmas Island |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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NA |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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NA |
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: service provided by Australian network
domestic: only analog mobile telephone service is available international: 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 (1998) |
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Radios:
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1,000 (1997) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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NA |
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Televisions:
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600 (1997) |
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Internet country code:
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.cx |
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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2 (2000) |
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Internet users:
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NA |
| Transportation | Christmas Island |
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Railways:
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24 km to serve phosphate mines |
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Highways:
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total: 240 km
paved: 30 km unpaved: 210 km (2000) |
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Waterways:
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none |
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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 (2002 est.) |
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Airports:
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1 (2002) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002) |
| Military | Christmas Island |
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Military - note:
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defense is responsibility of Australia |
| Transnational Issues | Christmas Island |
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Disputes - international:
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none |