The remote Cocos (Keeling) Islands are located 2,770 kilometres north-west of Perth in the Indian Ocean and comprise two tropical coral atolls. The southern atoll consists of 26 islands and the uninhabited northern atoll, North Keeling Island, lies 24 kilometres away.

Of approximately 570 people living on the southern atoll, 86 per cent are Cocos Malays, descended from Javanese labourers originally brought to the islands in the 19th century to farm coconuts. The remaining population is European, mainly employed by the Australian government.

The romance and the beauty of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands are captured in its dramatic sunrises and sunsets, although ironically, colour in our sky is infl uenced primarily by impurities like dust or smoke in the air.

Title: Skies of Cocos – Australia
Date of Issue: 22 May 2012
Country: Australia
Denominations: 60c, $1.20, $1.80, $3.00

Source: www.auspost.com.au