system: general assessment: NA
domestic: more than adequate
international: 1 submarine cable to Sint Maarten (Netherlands Antilles); extensive interisland microwave radio relay links
Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 6, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 50,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: 20,000 (1997)
Internet country code: .aw
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
Internet users: 4,000 (2000)
Aruba Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 800 km
paved: 513 km
unpaved: 287 km
note: most coastal roads are paved, while unpaved roads serve large tracts of the interior (1995)
Waterways: none
Ports and harbors: Barcadera, Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas
Merchant marine: total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,120
GRT/3,635 DWT
ships by type: cargo 1 (2000 est.)
Airports: 1 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2000 est.)
Aruba Military
Military branches: Royal Dutch Navy and Marines, Coast Guard
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the
Netherlands
Aruba Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: drug-money-laundering center and transit point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe
======================================================================
@Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Ashmore and Cartier Islands Introduction
Background: 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. Recent geological explorations have indicated promising petroleum formations.
Ashmore and Cartier Islands Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean, northwest of Australia
Geographic coordinates: 12 14 S, 123 05 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area: total: 5 sq km
land: 5 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) and Cartier Island
Area - comparative: about eight times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 74.1 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 3 NM
Climate: tropical
Terrain: low with sand and coral
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 3 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use: arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (all grass and sand)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: surrounded by shoals and reefs that can pose maritime hazards
Environment - current issues: NA
Geography - note: Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983
Ashmore and Cartier Islands People
Population: no indigenous inhabitants
note: there are only seasonal caretakers (July 2001 est.)
Ashmore and Cartier Islands Government
Country name: conventional long form: Territory of Ashmore and
Cartier Islands
conventional short form: Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Dependency status: territory of Australia; administered from
Canberra by the Australian Department of the Environment, Sport, and
Territories
Legal system: the laws of the Northern Territory of Australia, where applicable, apply
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of Australia)
Flag description: the flag of Australia is used
Ashmore and Cartier Islands Economy
Economy - overview: no economic activity
Ashmore and Cartier Islands Transportation
Waterways: none
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
Ashmore and Cartier Islands Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Australia; periodic visits by the Royal Australian Navy and Royal
