# Ashmore and Cartier Islands

> external territory of Australia in the Indian Ocean

**Wikidata**: [Q133888](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q133888)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashmore_and_Cartier_Islands)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ashmore-and-cartier-islands

## Summary
The Ashmore and Cartier Islands are an external territory of Australia located in the Indian Ocean. They are classified as a dependent territory, meaning they do not possess full political independence. The territory, which has a land area of 199 square kilometers and no permanent population, was officially accepted by Australia on May 10, 1934.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** An external territory of Australia and a dependent territory.
- **Location:** Situated in the Indian Ocean at coordinates -12.258333333333 latitude and 123.04166666667 longitude.
- **Sovereignty:** Part of and located in Australia, with the country relationship established on May 10, 1934.
- **Area:** 199 square kilometers.
- **Population:** 0 (uninhabited).
- **Inception Date:** Officially became an Australian territory on May 10, 1934, under the Ashmore and Cartier Islands Acceptance Act 1933.
- **Official Language:** English.
- **Highest Point:** The elevation is 3 metres above sea level.
- **Time Zone:** UTC+08:00.
- **Governing Law:** The main regulatory text is the Ashmore and Cartier Islands Acceptance Act 1933.
- **Highest Judicial Authority:** The Supreme Court of the Northern Territory.
- **Adjacent Body of Water:** Located in or next to the Indian Ocean.
- **Digital Presence:** The entity has sitelinks across 78 Wikipedia language editions.

## FAQs
**What is the political status of the Ashmore and Cartier Islands?**
They are an external territory of Australia, classified as a dependent territory. This means they are under Australian sovereignty but do not possess full political independence as a sovereign state.

**When did the islands become an Australian territory?**
Australia formally accepted the islands on May 10, 1934. This action was enacted under the Ashmore and Cartier Islands Acceptance Act of 1933.

**Does anyone live on the Ashmore and Cartier Islands?**
No, the islands have a recorded population of zero and are uninhabited. The territory is administered by Australia.

**What is the geographical setting of the islands?**
The territory is located in the Indian Ocean and consists of a land area of 199 square kilometers. It is a low-lying group of islands with a maximum elevation of 3 meters above sea level.

## Why It Matters
The Ashmore and Cartier Islands are significant as a sovereign claim and a manifestation of Australia's territorial extent in the Indian Ocean. Their status as an uninhabited external territory highlights a model of administration for remote, non-populated territories. The islands also serve as a key geographic reference point in international mapping systems and databases, contributing to the standardized classification of global political and geographical entities.

## Notable For
- Being an uninhabited external territory of Australia.
- Having a population of zero.
- Its official inception date of May 10, 1934, established by specific legislation.

## Body
### Political Status and Governance
The Ashmore and Cartier Islands are legally defined as an external territory of Australia. Their governance is established by the Ashmore and Cartier Islands Acceptance Act 1933, which set May 10, 1934, as the official date of acceptance. The territory is administered under Australian law, with the highest judicial authority being the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory. This classification as a dependent territory indicates it lacks the political independence of a sovereign state.

### Geography and Environment
The territory is situated in the Indian Ocean and encompasses a total land area of 199 square kilometers. Its terrain is low-lying, with an elevation of just 3 meters above sea level. The islands are located within the UTC+08:00 time zone. This geographic data is recorded in various international systems, including the World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions (ID: WAU-AC).

### Demographics and Inhabitation
A key demographic fact is the complete absence of a permanent population, which is officially recorded as zero. This lack of inhabitants distinguishes it from many other dependent territories and influences the nature of its administration.

### International Identification and Classification
The territory is recognized by numerous international coding and identification systems. These include:
- **FIPS 10-4:** AT
- **GENC 3-Character Code:** XAC
- **Library of Congress Authority ID:** n90679186
- **Geonames ID:** 2077507
- **Who's on First ID:** 85632613
- **OpenStreetMap Relation ID:** 2559345
This multi-system identification underscores its formal recognition as a distinct geographic and political entity.

### Cultural and Informational Presence
The islands have a presence across various knowledge and cultural platforms. They are the subject of a dedicated Commons category and gallery. Information about the territory is available in over 70 Wikipedia language editions, reflecting its global recognition. Alternative names and aliases for the islands exist in many languages, including French (Îles Ashmore et Cartier), German (Ashmore- und Cartier-Inseln), Russian (Ашмор и Картье), and Korean (애시모어와 카티어 군도).

## References

1. Ashmore and Cartier Islands Acceptance Act 1933
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. FIPS 10-4
4. [Source](https://www.skgeodesy.sk/sk/ugkk/geodezia-kartografia/standardizacia-geografickeho-nazvoslovia/nazvy-statov/)
5. GeoNames
6. Quora
7. KBpedia