West Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands

West Island
Native name:
Malay: Pulau Panjang
Cocos Malay: Pulu Panjang
The Cocos (Keeling) Islands, showing West Island
West Island is located in Cocos (Keeling) Islands
West Island
West Island
West Island in the Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Geography
LocationIndian Ocean
Coordinates12°11′13″S 96°49′42″E / 12.18694°S 96.82833°E / -12.18694; 96.82833
ArchipelagoCocos (Keeling) Islands
Area6.23 km2 (2.41 sq mi)
Administration
Australia
External territory of AustraliaAustralian Indian Ocean Territories
TerritoryCocos (Keeling) Islands
Capital cityCanberra
Demographics
Population120
Languages
Additional information
Time zone

West Island (Malay: Pulau Panjang, Cocos Islands Malay: Pulu Panjang), part of the South Keeling Islands, is the capital of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, an Australian external territory in the Indian Ocean. The population is roughly 120, making it the third smallest capital in the world, and consists mainly of Europeans. It is less populous than Home Island, the only other inhabited island.

West Island was part of the Clunies-Ross plantation and an airstrip was built here during World War II. As well as all the government buildings, it contains the airport, a general store and tourist accommodation. In November 2013 it was revealed that the Australian Signals Directorate operates a listening station on West Island.[1]

  1. ^ Dorling, Philip (1 November 2013). "Listening post revealed on Cocos Islands". Canberra Times. Archived from the original on 3 November 2013.