Christmas Island

Christmas Island tropical island (2001 pop. 1,508), 60 sq mi (155 sq km), an external territory of Australia, in the Indian Ocean c.200 mi (320 km) S of Java. The majority of the inhabitants descendants of Chinese and Malays who came to work the extensive phosphate deposits. Much of the island is now a national park. The island was annexed by Great Britain in 1888 and became part of the former Straits Settlements in 1889. In 1958 it was ceded to Australia. The island has been used to detain and process Asian asylum seekers who are intercepted at sea.

Christmas Island Island in the e Indian Ocean, 320km (200mi) s of Java. Once under British domination, it was annexed to Australia in 1958. It has important lime phosphate deposits. Area: 135sq km (52sq mi). Pop. (2001 est.) 2771.

http://www.christmas.net.au

Christmas Island, Australia, Kiribati 1. Australia: an External Territory since 1958. Although sighted in 1615, it was so‐named on Christmas Day 1643 by Captain William Mynors of the English East India Company. It was annexed by the UK in 1888 and was incorporated into the British Straits Settlements Colony in 1900. The island was occupied by the Japanese during the Second World War and became a dependency of Singapore in 1946.2. Kiribati: see Kiritimati.