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Home  »  The World Factbook, 2008  »  Glorioso Islands

The World Factbook. 2008.

Glorioso Islands

 
Flag of Glorioso Islands                Map of Glorioso Islands
  
Background:A French possession since 1892, the Glorioso Islands are composed of two lushly vegetated coral islands (Ile Glorieuse and Ile du Lys) and three rock islets. A military garrison operates a weather and radio station on Ile Glorieuse.
  
Geography
  
Location:Southern Africa, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, northwest of Madagascar
Geographic coordinates:11 30 S, 47 20 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 5 sq km
note: includes Ile Glorieuse, Ile du Lys, Verte Rocks, Wreck Rock, and South Rock
water: 0 sq km
land: 5 sq km
Area—comparative:about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:35.2 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 12 m
Natural resources:guano, coconuts
Land use:arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (all lush vegetation and coconut palms) (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:periodic cyclones
Environment—current issues:NA
Geography—note:the islands and rocks are surrounded by an extensive reef system
  
People
  
Population:no indigenous inhabitants
note: there is a small French military garrison along with a few meteorologists; visited by scientists (July 2003 est.)
  
Government
  
Country name:conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Glorioso Islands
local short form: Iles Glorieuses
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
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (possession of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (possession of France)
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