South Keeling Islands

South Keeling Islands
Geography
LocationIndian Ocean
Coordinates12°10′N 96°52′E / 12.167°N 96.867°E / 12.167; 96.867
Administration
Main article: Cocos (Keeling) Islands

The South Keeling Islands are a group of 24 islands of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, next to North Keeling, about 27 km (17 mi) to the north. The Australian atoll is located in the Indian Ocean about 2,930 km (1,821 mi) northwest of Perth, 3,685 km (2,290 mi) west of Darwin, 960 km (597 mi) southwest of Christmas Island and more than 1,000 km (621 mi) southwest of Java and Sumatra. Only two of the 24 islands are populated, with a total population of around 600.[1]

History

The islands are named after Captain William Keeling, who is believed to have been the first European to have visited, in 1609.[2] The islands were not inhabited until 1826, when Alexander Hare moved his family to Home Island.[3] The islands were ruled by John Clunies-Ross and his descendants between 1827 and 1986, even after the Cocos Islands became an Australian territory in 1955.[4]

Geography

The atoll consists of 24 islands, with the largest being West, Home, South, Direction, and Horsburgh islands.[5] West Island is the largest in the territory, with a length of 10 km (6 mi).[5]

The South Keeling Islands have two inhabited islands with a combined population of 600, West Island and Home Island.[3] The capital of the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands is West Island while the largest settlement is the village of Bantam, on Home Island.[6] The other islands are not permanently inhabited. A Malay ethnic group of just over 450 people live on the islands, the Cocos Malays, who live mainly in Bantam on Home Island. There are also about 150 Australians, most of whom live on West Island.[7]

Islets forming the South Keeling Islands atoll (clockwise from north)[2]
Islet
(Malay name)		 Translation of Malay name English name Area
(approx.)
km2 mi2
1 Pulau Luar Outer Island Horsburgh Island 1.04 0.40
2 Pulau Tikus Mouse Island Direction Island
3 Pulau Pasir Sand Island Workhouse Island 0.01 0.00
4 Pulau Beras Rice Island Prison Island 0.02 0.01
5 Pulau Gangsa Copper Island Closed sandbar, now part of Home Island 0.01 0.00
6 Pulau Selma Home Island 0.95 0.37
7 Pulau Ampang Kechil  Little Ampang Island Scaevola Islet 0.01 0.00
8 Pulau Ampang Ampang Island Canui Island 0.06 0.02
9 Pulau Wa-idas Ampang Minor 0.02 0.01
10 Pulau Blekok Reef Heron Island Goldwater Island 0.03 0.01
11 Pulau Kembang Flower Island Thorn Island 0.04 0.02
12 Pulau Cheplok Cape Gooseberry Island Gooseberry Island  0.01 0.00
13 Pulau Pandan Pandanus Island Misery Island 0.24 0.09
14 Pulau Siput Shell Island Goat Island 0.10 0.04
15 Pulau Jambatan Bridge Island Middle Mission Isle 0.01 0.00
16 Pulau Labu Pumpkin Island South Goat Island 0.04 0.02
17 Pulau Atas Up Wind Island South Island 3.63 1.40
18 Pulau Kelapa Satu One Coconut Island North Goat Island 0.02 0.01
19 Pulau Blan East Cay 0.03 0.01
20 Pulau Blan Madar Burial Island 0.03 0.01
21 Pulau Maria Maria Island West Cay 0.01 0.00
22 Pulau Kambing Goat Island Keelingham Horn Island 0.01 0.00
23 Pulau Panjang Long Island West Island 6.23 2.41
24 Pulau Wak Bangka Turtle Island 0.22 0.08

References

  1. ^ "History". shire.cc. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  2. ^ a b Atoll research bulletin. Washington, D.C. : [Smithsonian Press]. 1951. p. 14.
  3. ^ a b "History, Culture & Language". Cocos Keeling Islands. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  4. ^ "Dynasties". abc.net. Archived from the original on 31 August 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  5. ^ a b "Cocos Islands | territory, Australia". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  6. ^ "What Is the Capital of Cocos (Keeling) Island?". WorldAtlas. 29 August 2017. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  7. ^ Census 2011 des Australian Bureau of Statistics, retrieved 28 April 2015.
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