ARCHIVE // RE // 2005

Bassas da India

2005 Edition — territory

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
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Economy
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
no economic activity
Geography
Area [time series]
total: 0.2 sq km land: 0.2 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative [time series]
about one-third the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Climate [time series]
tropical
Coastline [time series]
35.2 km
Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 2.4 m
Environment - current issues [time series]
NA
Geographic coordinates [time series]
21 30 S, 39 50 E
Geography - note [time series]
the islands emerge from a circular reef that sits atop a long-extinct, submerged volcano
Irrigated land [time series]
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (all rock) (2001)
Location [time series]
Southern Africa, islands in the southern Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from Madagascar to Mozambique
Map references [time series]
Africa
Maritime claims [time series]
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Natural hazards [time series]
maritime hazard since it is usually under water during high tide and surrounded by reefs; subject to periodic cyclones
Natural resources [time series]
none
Terrain [time series]
volcanic rock
Government
Country name [time series]
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Bassas da India
Dependency status [time series]
possession of France; administered by the Administrateur Superieur of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Flag (Flag description) [time series]
the flag of France is used
Legal system [time series]
the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Introduction
Background [time series]
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.
Military
Military - note [time series]
defense is the responsibility of France
People
Population [time series]
uninhabited (July 2005 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
claimed by Madagascar
Transportation
Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]
none; offshore anchorage only