Cruising to Christmas Island

Background

Named in 1643 for the day of its discovery, the island was annexed and settlement began by the UK in 1888. Phosphate mining began in the 1890s. The UK transferred sovereignty to Australia in 1958. Almost two-thirds of the island has been declared a national park.

Geography

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

Coastline

138.9 km

Maritime claims

Territorial sea: 12 nm
Contiguous zone: 12 nm
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate

Tropical with a wet and dry season; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds; wet season (December to April)

Terrain

Steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau

Elevation extremes

Lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
Highest point: Murray Hill 361 m

Economy

Phosphate mining had been the only significant economic activity, but in December 1987 the Australian Government closed the mine. In 1991, the mine was reopened. With the support of the government, a $34 million casino opened in 1993. The casino closed in 1998. The Australian Government in 2001 agreed to support the creation of a commercial space-launching site on the island, projected to begin operations in the near future.

Transportation

Airports: 1 (2005)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1
Roadways: total: 142 km

Sailing Specifics: Ports and terminals

Flying Fish Cove

Other Sailing Destinations in the Region

Bahrain - Christmas Islands - Cocos Keeling - Comoros - Djibouti - Eritrea - India - Jordan - Kenya - Kuwait - Madagascar - Maldives - Mauritius - Mayotte - Mozambique - Oman - Pakistan - Qatar - Reunion Island - Saudi Arabia - Seychelles - Somalia - Sri Lanka - Sudan - Tanzania - United Arab Emirates - Yemen

Further Reading

Back to "vacations"

 


sailingahead.com