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Home  »  The World Factbook, 2008  »  Juan de Nova Island

The World Factbook. 2008.

Juan de Nova Island

 
Flag of Juan de Nova Island                Map of Juan de Nova Island
  
Background:Named after a famous 15th century Spanish navigator and explorer, the island has been a French possession since 1897. It has been exploited for its guano and phosphate. Presently a small military garrison oversees a meteorological station.
  
Geography
  
Location:Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-third of the way between Madagascar and Mozambique
Geographic coordinates:17 03 S, 42 45 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 4.4 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 4.4 sq km
Area—comparative:about seven times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:24.1 km
Maritime claims:continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
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 10 m
Natural resources:guano deposits and other fertilizers
Land use:arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (90% forest) (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:periodic cyclones
Environment—current issues:NA
Geography—note:wildlife sanctuary
  
People
  
Population:no indigenous inhabitants
note: there is a small French military garrison along with a few meteorologists; occasionally visited by scientists (July 2003 est.)
  
Government
  
Country name:conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Juan de Nova Island
local short form: Ile Juan de Nova
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:Up to 12,000 tons of guano are mined per year.
  
Communications
  
Communications—note:1 meteorological station
  
Transportation
  
Railways:total: NA km; short line going to a jetty
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