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NAVIGATION
Bassas da India
INTRODUCTION
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Background:
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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. |
GEOGRAPHY
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Location:
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Southern Africa, islands in the southern Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from Madagascar to Mozambique |
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Geographic coordinates:
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21 30 S, 39 50 E |
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Map references:
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Africa |
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Area:
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total: 0.2 sq km
water: 0 sq km land: 0.2 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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about one-third the size of The Mall in Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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35.2 km |
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Maritime claims:
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exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
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Climate:
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tropical |
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Terrain:
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volcanic rock |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 2.4 m |
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Natural resources:
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none |
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Land use:
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arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (all rock) (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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0 sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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maritime hazard since it is usually under water during high tide and surrounded by reefs; subject to periodic cyclones |
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Environment - current issues:
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NA |
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Geography - note:
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the islands emerge from a circular reef that sits atop a long-extinct, submerged volcano |
PEOPLE
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Population:
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uninhabited (July 2002 est.) |