Editing Coral Sea Islands (section)

== Geography ==
There are about 30 separate [[reef]]s and [[atoll]]s, twelve being wholly submerged or drying only during low tide, and 18 others with a total of about 51 islets and [[cay]]s (18 alone on the atoll [[Lihou Reef National Nature Reserve|Lihou Reef]]), some of which are vegetated. <!--The coral Sea is {{convert|3.9|mi|km}} deep--> The atolls exhibit a wide range of size, from a few kilometres in diameter to perhaps the second largest atoll in the world by total area (including [[lagoon]]): '''Lihou Reef''', with a lagoon size of {{convert|100|x|30|km|mi|abbr=off}} and an area of {{convert|2500|km2|sqmi|abbr=off}}, which compares to a combined land area of the 18 individual islets of only {{convert|0.91|km2|sqmi|2|abbr=off}}. The islands are all very low.

The [[Willis Islets]] are important nesting areas for birds and turtles but contain negligible natural resources. They comprise less than {{convert|3|km2|sqmi|spell=in|abbr=off}} of land. There is no port or harbour, only offshore anchorage.

Most of the atolls fall into two groups, while '''Mellish Reef''' to the east, and '''Middleton Reef''' and '''Elizabeth Reef''' to the south are grouped separately:

===Northwestern Group===
# [[Osprey Reef]] (submerged atoll roughly oval in shape, measuring {{convert|25|by|12|km|mi|abbr=off}}, covering around {{convert|195|km2|sqmi|abbr=off}}, with lagoon up to {{convert|30|m|ft|abbr=off}} deep)
# Shark Reef (small elongated submerged reef {{convert|15|km|mi|abbr=off}} south of Osprey Reef, with a minimum depth of {{convert|7.8|m|ft|1|abbr=off}})
# Bougainville Reef (small submerged atoll, {{convert|2.5|by|4|km|mi|1|abbr=off}}, area {{convert|8|km2|sqmi|abbr=off}} with lagoon, dries at half tide)
# East Holmes Reef (submerged atoll, about {{convert|14|by|10|km|mi|abbr=off}}, area {{convert|125|km2|sqmi|abbr=off}} with lagoon)
# West Holmes Reef (submerged atoll {{convert|6|km|mi|abbr=off}} east of East Holmes Reef, about {{convert|18|by|7|km|mi|abbr=off}}, area {{convert|125|km2|sqmi|abbr=off}} with lagoon that is open on the West side, two small cays)
# Flora Reef (small submerged atoll, 5 by 4&nbsp;km, about {{convert|12|km2|sqmi|abbr=off}})
# Diane Bank (sunken atoll, depths of less than 10 m over an area of 65 by 25&nbsp;km, or {{convert|1300|km2|sqmi|abbr=off}}, along the northern edge 3 m deep, with Sand Cay in the Northwest, 3 m high)
# North Moore Reef (small submerged atoll, 4 by 3&nbsp;km, area {{convert|8|km2|sqmi|abbr=off}} including lagoon that is open on the Northwest side)
# South Moore Reef (small submerged reef 5&nbsp;km South of North Moore Reef)
# [[Willis Island (Coral Sea)|Willis Islets]] (sunken atoll, bank 45 by 19&nbsp;km, bank area more than {{convert|500|km2|sqmi|abbr=off}}, 3 islets on the Northwestern side: North Cay, Mid Islet almost 8 m high, South Islet or Willis Island 10 m high)
# Magdelaine Cays & Coringa Islets (one large, partially sunken atoll structure, almost 90 by 30&nbsp;km, bank area about {{convert|1500|km2|sqmi|abbr=off}}), 2 islets of the Magdelaine Cays in the North: North West Islet (area approximately {{convert|0.2|km2|sqmi|1|abbr=off}}) and South East Cay (area {{convert|0.37|km2|sqmi|abbr=off}}); 2 islets of the Coringa Islets 50 to 60&nbsp;km further Southwest: Southwest Islet or Coringa Islet (area 0.173&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>), and Chilcott Islet (area 0.163&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>)
# Herald Cays, Northeast Cay (encircled by a reef of 3 by 3&nbsp;km, total area 6&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, land area 0.34&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>)
# Herald Cays, Southwest Cay (4&nbsp;km Southwest of Northeast Cay, encircled by a reef of 2 by 2&nbsp;km, total area 3&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, land area 0.188&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>)
# Lihou Reef and Cays (largest atoll in the coral sea, with a size of 2500&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, land area 0.91&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>)
# Diamond Islets & Tregosse Reefs (large, partially sunken atoll, 100 by 52&nbsp;km, area of the bank over 3000&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, with 4 islets and 2 small submerged reefs in the Northeast and Southeast: West Diamond Islet, Central Diamond Islet, East Diamond Islet on the Northeastern rim of the former atoll, and South Diamond Islet, East Tregosse Reef and West Tregosse Reef on the Southern rim)
# [[Flinders Reef (Coral Sea)|North Flinders Reef]] (large atoll, 34 by 23&nbsp;km, area 600&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, with 2 islets, Flinders Cay being the larger one with a length of 200 m and a height of 3 m)
# [[Flinders Reef (Coral Sea)|South Flinders Reef]] (atoll, 15 by 5&nbsp;km, 60&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>)
# Herald's Surprise (small submerged reef North of Flinders Reefs, 3 by 2&nbsp;km)
# Dart Reef (small submerged reef Northwest of Flinders Reefs, 3 by 3&nbsp;km, area 6&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> including small lagoon that is open to the North)
# Malay Reef (small submerged reef, not clearly defined, no breakers, difficult to see)
# Abington Reef (submerged reef, nearly awash, 4 by 2.5&nbsp;km, area 7&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>)
# Marion Reef (Large circular atoll formation that is composed of three main units located on the Eastern side: Marion, Long and Wansfell; and a number of smaller reefs on the west. The formation sits atop a submarine feature known as the '''Marion Plateau''' which is separated from the larger Coral Sea Plateau to the north by the '''Townsville Trough'''. Three small sand cays are located on the eastern side of Marion Reef: Paget Cay, on Long Reef, Carola Cay, south of Long Reef, and Brodie Cay, on Wansfell Reef.)
[[File:Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos 1.jpg|thumb|A pair of Grey Reef Sharks (''Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos'') and divers in blue water. North Horn, Coral Sea Islands]]
The atolls of the Northwestern Group, except Osprey Reef and Shark Reef in the north, and Marion Reef in the south, are located on the '''Coral Sea Plateau''' (Queensland Plateau), a contiguous area of depths less than 1000 m.

* '''[[Flinders Reef (Coral Sea)|Flinders Reefs]]''' (North and South), '''Herald's Surprise''' and '''Dart Reef''' form a cluster of reefs of 66 by 26&nbsp;km.
* '''Magdelaine Cays''', '''Coringa Islets''' and '''Herald Cays''' are part of the 8856&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> [[Coringa-Herald National Nature Reserve]], created on 16 August 1982 and located around 400&nbsp;km east of [[Cairns]] and 220 to 320&nbsp;km from the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef. The 6 islets of the nature reserve have areas from 0.16 to 0.37&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, for a total of 1.24&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>.
* '''[[Lihou Reef National Nature Reserve|Lihou Reef]]''' was declared a Nature Reserve on 16 August 1982, with an area of 8440&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>.

The Nature Reserves were created to protect wildlife in the respective areas of the territory; together they form the [[Coral Sea Reserves Ramsar Site]].

===Mellish Reef===
[[File:Beacon erected on Mellish Cay by H.M.S Herald 1859.jpg|right|thumb|Beacon erected on Mellish Reef in the Coral Sea in 1859]]
#[[Mellish Reef]], being about 300&nbsp;km to the east of the '''Northwestern Group''', thus the most distant from the Australian continent of all the reefs and atolls of the Coral Sea Islands Territory, is not considered to be part of any group. It has the outline of a boomerang-shaped platform around 10&nbsp;km in length and 3&nbsp;km across, area 25&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>. The surrounding reefs, which enclose a narrow lagoon, are completely submerged at high tide. Near the centre of the lagoon is the only permanent land of the reef - Heralds-Beacon Islet. The island is a small cay measuring 600 m by 120 m, area 57,000 m2, only rising a few ms above the high-water mark.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oceandots.com/pacific/coralsea/mellish.php |title=Oceandots.com |access-date=2009-03-14 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101223043232/http://www.oceandots.com/pacific/coralsea/mellish.php |archive-date=23 December 2010 }}</ref> The reef was discovered and named by Captain Alexander Bristow in the [[whaling ship]] {{ship||Thames|1805 ship|2}} on 5 April 1812. The {{ship|French aviso|Duroc|852|6}} wrecked on the reef on 16 August 1856. {{HMS|Herald|1824|6}} erected the first beacon on the cay, using wreckage from ''Duroc''.

===Southeasterly Group===
#[[Frederick Reefs]]: The reefs form a semi-enclosed lagoon, known as Anchorage Sound, with an opening on the North side. The complex measures about 10 by 4&nbsp;km, with an area of 30&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>. On the southern side of the reef lies Observatory Cay, the only permanently dry land, although there are a few of others cays that can be awash at high tide.
#[[Kenn Reefs]], submerged atoll of about 15 by 8&nbsp;km, area 40&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, islet Observatory Cay in the Southeast, 2 m high
#[[Saumarez Reefs]], southernmost reefs to be located on the Coral Sea Shelf; three main reefs and numerous smaller reefs that form a large crescent-shaped formation open to the northwest, about 27 by 14&nbsp;km, area less than 300&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>. There are two sand cays: North East Cay and South West Cay.
#[[Wreck Reefs]]: atoll 25 by 5&nbsp;km, area 75&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, open on the North. Islets found on the reefs include Bird Islet, West Islet and Porpoise Cay.
#[[Cato Reef]]: Cato bank 21 by 13&nbsp;km, area 200&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> of depths less than 17 m; Cato Reef encircles an area of 3.3 by 1.8&nbsp;km, area 5&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> including lagoon; Cato Island, in the West of the lagoon, 650 by 300 m, area 0.15&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, 6 m high. Close to the Southeast corner of Cato bank is Hutchison Rock, with 1 m depth over. '''Cato Island''' is the highest point in the Territory.

===Extreme South===
[[Elizabeth Reef|Elizabeth]] and [[Middleton Reef|Middleton]] reefs, together with reefs around [[Lord Howe Island]] ([[New South Wales]]) 150 km to the south, are regarded as the southernmost coral reefs in the world. Their location, where tropical and temperate ocean currents meet, contributes to an unusually diverse assemblage of marine species. These mostly submerged atolls which dry only during low tide were added to the territory only in 1989. They are located on the [[Lord Howe Rise]]. Already on 23 December 1987, they were protected as the [[Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Marine National Park Reserve]], which has an area of 1,880 km<sup>2</sup>.

# [[Elizabeth Reef]], atoll about 8.2 km by 5.5 km, area 51 km<sup>2</sup> including lagoon, one islet: Elizabeth Island (Elizabeth Cay), no vegetation, 600 m by 400 m (area 0.2 km<sup>2</sup>), highest point 0.8 m. At low tides, much of the reef flat is exposed.
# [[Middleton Reef]], atoll about 8.9 km by 6.3 km, area 37 km<sup>2</sup> including lagoon, one islet: The Sound, 100 m by 70 m (area 5,000 m<sup>2</sup>), highest point 1.5 m (close to the northern end). At low tides, much of the reef flat is exposed.

===Overview of islets and cays===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Complex !! Type !! Islets/cays</tr>
| [[West Holmes Reef]]       || Atoll ||align="right"|  2</tr>
| [[Diane Bank]]             || Atoll (mostly sunken)    ||align="right"| Diane Bank Cay</tr>
| [[Willis Group (atoll)|Willis Group]]           || Atoll (partially sunken) ||align="right"| South Islet ([[Willis Island]]), Mid Islet, North Cay</tr>
| [[Magdelaine Cays]] and [[Coringa Islets]] || Atoll (partially sunken) ||align="right"| Northwest Islet, Southeast Cay, Southwest, Chilcott Islets</tr>
| [[Herald Cays]] (North)    || Reef  ||align="right"|  Northwest Cay</tr>
| [[Herald Cays]] (South)    || Reef  ||align="right"|  Southeast Cay</tr>
| [[Lihou Reef National Nature Reserve|Lihou Reef and Cays]]    || Atoll ||align="right"| 18</tr>
| [[Diamond Islands]] and [[Tregosse Reefs]] || Atoll (partially sunken) ||align="right"| West Diamond, Central Diamond, East Diamond, Southwest Diamond Islets</tr>
| [[Flinders Reefs]] (North) || Atoll ||align="right"|  Flinders, Main, Victoria Cays</tr>
| [[Marion Reef]]            || Atoll ||align="right"|  Paget, Carola, Brodie Cays</tr>
| [[Mellish Reef]]           || Atoll ||align="right"|  [[Heralds-Beacon Isle]]t</tr>
| [[Frederick Reefs]]        || Atoll ||align="right"|  [[Observatory Cay]]</tr>
| [[Kenn Reef]]              || Atoll ||align="right"|  [[Observatory Cay]]</tr>
| [[Saumarez Reef]]          || Atoll ||align="right"|  Northeast, Southwest Cays</tr>
| [[Wreck Reef]]             || Atoll ||align="right"|  Bird, West Islets, Porpoise Cay</tr>
| [[Cato Reef]]              || Atoll ||align="right"|  [[Cato Reef#Cato Island|Cato Island]]</tr>
| [[Middleton Reef]]         || Atoll ||align="right"|  The Sound</tr>
| [[Elizabeth Reef]]         || Atoll ||align="right"|  Elizabeth Island</tr> 
|colspan="2"| ''Total number of islands/cays'' ||align="right"| 51</tr>
|}

[[File:Cetoscarus ocellatus.jpg|thumb|A male Bicolor Parrotfish is at home on North Horn, Osprey Reef]]