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INTRODUCTION
Background:
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A French possession since 1897, the island is heavily wooded; it is the site of a small military garrison that staffs a weather station. |
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GEOGRAPHY
Location:
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Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from southern Madagascar to southern Mozambique
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Geographic coordinates:
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22 20 S, 40 22 E
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Map references:
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Africa
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Area:
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total: 28 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 28 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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about 0.16 times the size of Washington, DC
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Land boundaries:
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0 km
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Coastline:
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22.2 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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low and flat
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 24 m
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Natural resources:
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NEGL
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Land use:
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arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (mangrove forests and woodlands) (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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NA
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Environment - current issues:
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NA
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Geography - note:
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wildlife sanctuary
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PEOPLE
Population:
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no indigenous inhabitants
note: there is a small French military garrison and a few meteorologists; visited by scientists (July 2002 est.)
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