Fun facts about Christmas Island
5 facts - tap any card to flip it and learn more.
The first European to sight Christmas Island was Richard Rowe in 1615.
Christmas Island
Australia
Christmas Island, officially the Territory of Christmas Island, is an Australian external territory in the Indian Ocean comprising the island of the same name. It is about 350 kilometres south of Java and Sumatra and about 1,550 km (840 nmi) north-west of the closest point on the Australian mainland.
From the “History” section
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photo: Charles Barbant · Public Domain
Christmas Island is about 19 kilometres in length and 14.5 kilometres in breadth.
Christmas Island
Australia
Christmas Island, officially the Territory of Christmas Island, is an Australian external territory in the Indian Ocean comprising the island of the same name. It is about 350 kilometres south of Java and Sumatra and about 1,550 km (840 nmi) north-west of the closest point on the Australian mainland.
From the “Geography” section
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photo: Charles Barbant · Public Domain
As of the 2021 Australian census, 22.2% of the population of Christmas Island had Chinese ancestry.
Christmas Island
Australia
Christmas Island, officially the Territory of Christmas Island, is an Australian external territory in the Indian Ocean comprising the island of the same name. It is about 350 kilometres south of Java and Sumatra and about 1,550 km (840 nmi) north-west of the closest point on the Australian mainland.
From the “Demographics” section
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photo: Charles Barbant · Public Domain
The two official holidays on Christmas Island are Christmas and Easter.
Christmas Island
Australia
Christmas Island, officially the Territory of Christmas Island, is an Australian external territory in the Indian Ocean comprising the island of the same name. It is about 350 kilometres south of Java and Sumatra and about 1,550 km (840 nmi) north-west of the closest point on the Australian mainland.
From the “Holidays and festivals” section
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photo: Charles Barbant · Public Domain
Phosphate mining was the only significant economic activity on Christmas Island until the mine was closed in 1987.
Christmas Island
Australia
Christmas Island, officially the Territory of Christmas Island, is an Australian external territory in the Indian Ocean comprising the island of the same name. It is about 350 kilometres south of Java and Sumatra and about 1,550 km (840 nmi) north-west of the closest point on the Australian mainland.
From the “Economy” section
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photo: Charles Barbant · Public Domain