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Tromelin Island

Background:

First explored by the French in 1776, the island came under the jurisdiction of Reunion in 1814. At present, it serves as a sea turtle sanctuary and is the site of an important meteorological station.
Geography Tromelin Island
Location:
Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar
Geographic coordinates:
15 52 S, 54 25 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 1 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 1 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
3.7 km
Maritime claims - as described in UNCLOS 1982 (see Notes and Definitions):
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
tropical
Terrain:
low, flat, and sandy; likely volcanic
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 7 m
Natural resources:
fish
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (grasses; scattered bushes) (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
climatologically important location for forecasting cyclones; wildlife sanctuary (seabirds, tortoises)
People Tromelin Island
Population:
uninhabited, except for visits by scientists (July 2004 est.)
Government Tromelin Island
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Tromelin Island
local short form: Ile Tromelin
local long form: none
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 Tromelin Island
Economy - overview:
no economic activity
Communications Tromelin Island
Communications - note:
important meteorological station
Transportation Tromelin Island
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
none; offshore anchorage only
Airports:
1 (2003 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2003 est.)
Military Tromelin Island
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues Tromelin Island
Disputes - international:
claimed by Mauritius