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[[Image:ChristmasIslandFlag.gif |thumb|200px|The flag of Christmas Island]]
[[Image:ChristmasIslandFlag.gif |thumb|200px|The flag of Christmas Island]]
[[Image:Christmaslsland.gif |thumb|200px|Christmas Island]]
[[Image:Christmaslsland.gif |thumb|200px|Christmas Island]]
'''Christmas Island''' is a territory of [[Australia]] located in the [[Indian Ocean]] south of [[Indonesia]] and northwest of Australia. It was first discovered by the the British on December 25, 1643, hence the name of the island. The [[United Kingdom]] handed over sovereignty of the island to [[Australia]] in 1958 and it has remained in Australia's control since.
'''Christmas Island''' is a territory of [[Australia]] located in the [[Indian Ocean]] south of [[Indonesia]] and northwest of Australia. It was first discovered by the the British on [[Christmas|December 25]], 1643, hence the name of the island. The [[United Kingdom]] handed over sovereignty of the island to [[Australia]] in 1958 and it has remained in Australia's control since.
Christmas Island should not be confused with Kiritimati (formerly called Christmas Island; Kiritimati is the Gilbertese spelling of Christmas), which is an island in the [[Republic of Kiribati]] (pronounced Kiribass) <ref>CIA Factbook, [https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/kr.html Kiribati]</ref>
Christmas Island should not be confused with Kiritimati (formerly called Christmas Island; Kiritimati is the Gilbertese spelling of Christmas), which is an island in the [[Republic of Kiribati]] (pronounced Kiribass) <ref>CIA Factbook, [https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/kr.html Kiribati]</ref>
== Geography ==
== Geography ==
The total area of Christmas Island is 135 square kilometres, roughly about 3/4 the size of [[Washington D.C.]] It is almost totally covered by tropical rain forests and in fact 63% of the Island is now a National Park.
The total area of Christmas Island is 135 square kilometres, roughly about 3/4 the size of [[Washington D.C.]] It is almost totally covered by tropical rain forests. Sixty-three per cent of the island is now a national park.
== Population ==
== Population ==