Christmas Island





Country
Territory of Christmas Island 
Capital
The Settlement 
Population 
1,513 (July 2013 est.)
Nationality
Christmas Islander(s) 
Religions 
Buddhist 36%, Muslim 25%, Christian 18%, other 21% (1997)
Languages 
English (official), Chinese, Malay
Location
Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia
Geographic coordinates
10 30 S, 105 40 E
Map references
Southeast Asia
Area
total: 135 sq km
land: 135 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative
about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries
0 km
Coastline
138.9 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate
tropical with a wet season (December to April) and dry season; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds
Terrain
steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Murray Hill 361 m
Natural resources
phosphate, beaches
Land use
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (mainly tropical rainforest; 63% of the island is a national park) (2005)
Irrigated land
NA
Natural hazards
the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard
Environment - current issues
loss of rainforest; impact of phosphate mining
Geography - note
located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean

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