[[Image:ChristmasIslandFlag.gif |thumb|200px|The flag of 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 [[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>
== 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% . Sixty-three per cent of the Island island is now a National Parknational park.
== Population ==
* [https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/kt.html CIA Factbook]
== Notes ==
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{{Australian States}}
[[Category:Islands]]
[[Category:Australia]]