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| 1641 Aerial views of Cocos (Keeling) Islands |
Cocos (Keeling) Islands is a territory of Australia, located in the Indian Ocean, southwest of Christmas Island and approximately midway between Australia and Sri Lanka. The territory consists of two flat, low-lying coral atolls and 27 coral islands, of which two, West Island and Home Island, are inhabited with a total population of approximately 600. The climate is pleasant, moderated by the southeast trade winds for about nine months of the year and with moderate rainfall. There are no rivers or lakes on either atoll. Fresh water resources are limited to water lenses on the larger islands, underground accumulations of rainwater lying above the seawater. These lenses are accessed through shallow bores or wells.
