The Coral Sea Islands Territory is an external territory of Australia which comprises a group of small and mostly uninhabited tropical islands and reefs in the Coral Sea, north-east of Queensland, Australia. The only inhabited island is Willis Island. The territory covers 780,000 km2 (301,160 sq mi), most of which is ocean, extending east and south from the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef and includes Heralds Beacon Island, Osprey Reef, the Willis Group and fifteen other reef/island groups. Cato Island is the highest point in the Territory.
Acropora coral garden with giant clam. Raging Horn, Coral Sea Islands
A pair of Grey Reef Sharks (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) and divers in blue water. North Horn, Coral Sea Islands
Beacon erected on Mellish Reef in the Coral Sea in 1859
A male Bicolor Parrotfish is at home on North Horn, Osprey Reef
The Coral Sea is a marginal sea of the South Pacific off the northeast coast of Australia, and classified as an interim Australian bioregion. The Coral Sea extends 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) down the Australian northeast coast. Most of it is protected by the French Natural Park of the Coral Sea and the Australian Coral Sea Marine Park. The sea was the location for the Battle of the Coral Sea, a major confrontation during World War II between the navies of the Empire of Japan, and the United States and Australia.
Thermal profile of the East Australian Current
Tropical Cyclone Larry over the Great Barrier Reef, 19 March 2006
Corals on Flynn Reef near Cairns
Crown-of-thorns starfish
