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Home  »  The World Factbook, 2008  »  Europa Island

The World Factbook. 2008.

Europa Island

 
Flag of Europa Island                Map of Europa Island
  
Background:A French possession since 1897, the island is heavily wooded; it is the site of a small military garrison that staffs a weather station.
  
Geography
  
Location:Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from southern Madagascar to southern Mozambique
Geographic coordinates:22 20 S, 40 22 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 28 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 28 sq km
Area—comparative:about 0.16 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:22.2 km
Maritime claims:exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:tropical
Terrain:low and flat
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 24 m
Natural resources:NEGL
Land use:arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (mangrove forests and woodlands) (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:NA
Environment—current issues:NA
Geography—note:wildlife sanctuary
  
People
  
Population:no indigenous inhabitants
note: there is a small French military garrison and a few meteorologists; visited by scientists (July 2003 est.)
  
Government
  
Country name:conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Europa Island
local short form: Ile Europa
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
  
Economy—overview:no economic activity
  
Communications
  
Communications—note:1 meteorological station
  
Transportation
  
Waterways:none
Ports and harbors:none; offshore anchorage only
Airports:1 (2002)
Airports—with unpaved runways:total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
  
Military
  
Military—note:defense is the responsibility of France
  
Transnational Issues
  
Disputes—international:claimed by Madagascar