Christmas Island
Geography - People - Economy - Government - Communications - Transportation - Military - Transnational IssuesCountry name - conventional long form : Territory of Christmas Island
Country name - conventional short form : Christmas Island
Government type : NA
Capital - name : The Settlement
Capital - time difference : UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
National holiday : Australia Day, 26 January (1788)
Population : 1,402 (July 2007 est.)
Nationality - noun : Christmas Islander(s)
Nationality - adjective : Christmas Island
Languages : English (official), Chinese, Malay
Currency (code) : Australian dollar (AUD)
Currency code : AUD
Christmas Island is located Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia. The climate is tropical with a wet season (December to April) and dry season; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds. The terrain is steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau.
Background
This entry usually highlights major historic events and current issues and may include a statement about one or two key future trends.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.
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