From Free media library
| Introduction
| Bassas da India
|
| Background:
| This atoll is a volcanic rock surrounded by reefs and is awash at high tide. A French possession since 1897, it was placed under the administration of a commissioner residing in Reunion in 1968.
|
| Geography
| Bassas da India
|
| Location:
| Southern Africa, islands in the southern Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from Madagascar to Mozambique
|
| Geographic coordinates:
| 21 30 S, 39 50 E
|
| Map references:
| Africa
|
| Area:
| total: 0.2 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 0.2 sq km
|
| Area - comparative:
| about one-third the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
|
| Land boundaries:
| 0 km
|
| Coastline:
| 35.2 km
|
| Maritime claims:
| territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
|
| Climate:
| tropical
|
| Terrain:
| volcanic rock
|
| Elevation extremes:
| lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 2.4 m
|
| Natural resources:
| none
|
| Land use:
| arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (all rock) (2001)
|
| Irrigated land:
| 0 sq km (1998 est.)
|
| Natural hazards:
| maritime hazard since it is usually under water during high tide and surrounded by reefs; subject to periodic cyclones
|
| Environment - current issues:
| NA
|
| Geography - note:
| the islands emerge from a circular reef that sits atop a long-extinct, submerged volcano
|
| Population:
| uninhabited (July 2004 est.)
|
| Government
| Bassas da India
|
| Country name:
| conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Bassas da India
|
| Dependency status:
| possession of France; administered by a high commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion
|
| Legal system:
| the laws of France, where applicable, apply
|
| Flag description:
| the flag of France is used
|
| Economy - overview:
| no economic activity
|
| Transportation
| Bassas da India
|
| Ports and harbors:
| none; offshore anchorage only
|
| Military - note:
| defense is the responsibility of France
|
This page was last updated on 1 January 2003
This is a snapshot of the CIA World Fact Book as it existed on 26 March 2005
