AUSTRALIA'S LOCATION
Australia is located in the Southern Hemisphere of the world. It lies between the Indian, Pacific, and Southern Oceans, geographically south of the Asian continent. All of Australia lies between the latitudes of 10°41’S at Cape York in Queensland and 43°38’S at South East Cape in Tasmania.
Australia also lies in the Eastern Hemisphere with longitudes between 113°09’E at Steep Point in Western Australia and 153°38’E at Cape Byron in New South Wales.
Australia could also be described as being in the south-east quadrant of the world. The map shows Australia's location in the world, and its proximity to the Asian continent and the countries of Papua New Guinea and New Zealand.
Australia also lies in the Eastern Hemisphere with longitudes between 113°09’E at Steep Point in Western Australia and 153°38’E at Cape Byron in New South Wales.
Australia could also be described as being in the south-east quadrant of the world. The map shows Australia's location in the world, and its proximity to the Asian continent and the countries of Papua New Guinea and New Zealand.
Maritime Boundaries
Australia's maritime boundaries are defined by their distance from land. This is measured from the territorial sea baseline (TSB), which corresponds roughly with the low-water line, and includes the coasts of islands such as Lord Howe Island. The zones are divided into the following:
In 2008 the United Nations expanded Australia's rights to oil, mineral and biological resources by an extra 2.5 million square kilometres of continental shelf, in nine marine regions. Australia has eight major links to the world. These are:
- coastal/internal waters- first three nautical miles (nm) from TSB
- territorial sea/waters- 0 to 12 nautical miles from TSB. Australia has rights over this area and allows ‘innocent passage’ (i.e. with no harmful purpose) for foreign ships.
- contiguous zone- 12 to 24 nautical miles from TSB. In this zone, Australia may punish infringements of customs, money or sanitary regulations.
- exclusive economic zone (EEZ)- 12 to 200 nautical miles from TSB. Australia has exclusive use of marine life and oil and gas reserves in the EEZ unless it grants access to another country.
- Australian fishing zone- 3 to 200 nautical miles from TSB. Generally the outer limit of this zone is the same as the EEZ boundary. In this zone Australia regulates fishing by all countries.
- continental shelf- an area of seabed extending outward from Australia and roughly the same as the EEZ. Australia has sovereign rights over the continental shelf for exploiting mineral and marine organisms.
In 2008 the United Nations expanded Australia's rights to oil, mineral and biological resources by an extra 2.5 million square kilometres of continental shelf, in nine marine regions. Australia has eight major links to the world. These are:
- Migration
- Defence
- Tourism
- Culture
- rade
- aid
- communication
- sport