Cocos (Keeling) Islands

About Cocos (Keeling) Islands: 

• The Cocos (Keeling) Islands lie in the eastern Indian Ocean, about 2,900 kilometers (1,800 miles) northwest of the Australian city of Perth.
• It comprises of coral atolls and islands, the archipelago includes North Keeling Island and the South Keeling Islands.
• The territory’s administrative headquarters are on West Island in the southern atoll. 
• Climate: Warm and humid climate.
• Vegetation: The vegetation consists chiefly of coconut palms, which were formerly cultivated for copra on plantations.
• The northern atoll consists of Australia’s most remote Commonwealth National Park, the Pulu Keeling National Park.
• On North Keeling and Horsburgh islands, coarse grass serves as a ground cover. 
• The inhabitants of this Island are predominantly the descendants of the original plantation workers, mostly of Malay origin. 
• Administration:  An administrator appointed by the Australian governor-general is the senior government official in the Cocos. The islands became an Australian territory under the Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act 1955.

Q1) What is an island?

An island is a piece of land that is completely surrounded by water. It can be large or small, and it may exist in oceans, seas, rivers, or other bodies of water. Islands can be found all over the world, and they come in various shapes and sizes.

Source: Two Indian military aircraft visit Australia’s strategic Cocos Islands

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