Bassas da India

(possession of France)

Geography

Location: Southern Africa, islands in the southern Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from Madagascar to Mozambique

Map references: Africa

Area:
total area: 0.2 km2
land area: 0.2 km2
comparative area: NA

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 35.2 km

Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: claimed by Madagascar

Climate: tropical

Terrain: a volcanic rock 2.4 meters high

Natural resources: none

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (all rock)

Irrigated land: 0 sq km

Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: maritime hazard since it is usually under water during high tide and surrounded by reefs; subject to periodic cyclones
international agreements: NA

People

Population: uninhabited

Government

Names:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Bassas da India

Digraph: BS

Type: French possession administered by a Commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion

Capital: none; administered by France from Reunion

Independence: none (possession of France)

Economy

Overview: no economic activity

Transportation

Ports: none; offshore anchorage only

Defense Forces

Note: defense is the responsibility of France