Christmas Island

Christmas Island

Coordinates: 10°29′S 105°38′E / 10.483°S 105.633°E / -10.483; 105.633 The Territory of Christmas Island is a territory of Australia in the Indian Ocean. It has a population of 1,403 residents who live in a number of "settlement areas" on the northern tip of the island: Flying Fish Cove (also known as Kampong), Silver City, Poon Saan, and Drumsite. The majority of the population is Chinese Australian.

The island’s geographic isolation and history of minimal human disturbance has led to a high level of endemism among its flora and fauna, which is of significant interest to scientists and naturalists. 63% of its 135 square kilometres (52 sq mi) is an Australian national park. There exist large areas of primary monsoonal forest.

Phosphate, deposited originally as guano, has been mined on the island for many years.

Read more about Christmas Island:  Refugee and Immigration Detention, Demographics, Postage Stamps, Government, Economy, Geography, Flora and Fauna, Education

Famous quotes containing the words christmas and/or island:

    The sixth day of Christmas,
    My true love sent to me
    Six geese a-laying,
    —Unknown. The Twelve Days of Christmas (l. 26–28)

    If a man be gracious and courteous to strangers, it shows he is a citizen of the world, and that his heart is no island cut off from others lands, but a continent that joins to them.
    Francis Bacon (1561–1626)