How two remote islands named Cocos became distinct territories in different oceans

Countries & Cities · Published 30 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The name Cocos appears in both the Indian and Pacific Oceans, marking two vastly different histories. While one is an Australian territory shaped by coconut plantations and a unique Malay culture, the other is a volcanic Costa Rican outpost famous for its marine life and legends of buried treasure.

The Cocos (Keeling) Islands in the Indian Ocean comprise two coral atolls located 2,290 miles west of Darwin. First sighted by William Keeling in 1609, the islands were later settled by Alexander Hare and John Clunies-Ross, who established coconut plantations worked by Malay laborers. By 1955, the islands transitioned from British administration to Australian territory. The local population, largely descendants of the original plantation workers, voted for full political integration with Australia in 1984, leading to the application of Western Australian legal structures.

In contrast, the Pacific Ocean’s Cocos Island—or Isla del Coco—is a volcanic landmass administered by Costa Rica, situated 550 kilometers off its mainland. Unlike its Indian Ocean namesake, it has no permanent human inhabitants, serving instead as a protected National Park. Its history is marked by maritime visits from whalers and treasure hunters, including August Gissler, who was appointed governor in 1897 to oversee a short-lived colony. The island is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, celebrated for its biodiversity, including hammerhead sharks and dolphins.

The two locations share little beyond their name and isolation. While the Indian Ocean territory maintains a small, permanent community on West and Home Islands, the Pacific island remains a rugged, uninhabited wilderness. The Cocos (Keeling) Islands rely on copra production and administrative support from Australia, whereas the Pacific Cocos Island is strictly managed for ecological conservation. These distinct paths illustrate how geography and colonial history have defined the unique identities of these two remote, namesake islands.

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