Cocos (Keeling) Islands The Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
(or simply Cocos Islands or Keeling Islands) is in the middle of
the Indian Ocean some 2750km north-west of Perth, and 900km west
south-west of Christmas Island. - Direction Island - Home Island
- Horsburgh Island - North Keeling Island - South Island - West
Island The Cocos (Keeling) Islands are located in the middle of
the Indian Ocean some 2750km north-west of Perth, and 900km west
south-west of Christmas Island, its closest neighbour. Cocos
lies approximately 12° south and 96.5° east, locating the
islands in the humid tropical zone. There are 27 coral islands
in the group. Captain William Keeling discovered the islands in
1609, but they remained uninhabited until the 19th century.
Annexed by the UK in 1857, they were transferred to the
Australian Government in 1955. The population on the two
inhabited islands generally is split between the ethnic
Europeans on West Island and the ethnic Malays on Home Island.
Grown throughout the islands, coc