Australian Indian Ocean Territories, External territory in Indian Ocean, Australia.
These territories comprise two island groups in the Indian Ocean, located thousands of kilometers from mainland Australia. Christmas Island and the Cocos Islands have different landscapes, climates, and wildlife that define each place.
The islands came under Australian control in the 1950s after Britain handed them over. This transfer marked a new chapter for these remote island communities in the Indian Ocean.
The population includes different communities: Chinese Buddhists live on Christmas Island while Malay Muslims form the majority on the Cocos Islands. These groups shape the daily life and traditions you see in both places.
Regular flights from Perth connect both islands to mainland Australia. Medical care is handled through facilities in Western Australia, with emergency evacuations arranged when needed.
Christmas Island experiences annual migrations of millions of red crabs that travel from the forest to the ocean. These crabs cross roads and climb cliffs as they make their journey to the sea.
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