|
Background:
|
 A
French possession since 1897, the island is heavily wooded; it
is the site of a small military garrison that staffs a weather
station. |
|
Location:
|
Southern Africa,
island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way
from southern Madagascar to southern Mozambique |
|
Geographic coordinates:
|
22 20 S, 40 22 E |
|
Map references:
|
Africa |
|
Area:
|
total: 28
sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 28 sq km |
|
Area - comparative:
|
about 0.16 times
the size of Washington, DC |
|
Land boundaries:
|
0 km |
|
Coastline:
|
22.2 km |
|
Climate:
|
tropical |
|
Terrain:
|
low and flat |
|
Elevation extremes:
|
lowest point:
Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 24 m |
|
Natural resources:
|
NEGL |
|
Land use:
|
arable land:
0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (mangrove forests and woodlands) (1998
est.) |
|
Irrigated land:
|
0 sq km (1998
est.) |
|
Natural hazards:
|
NA |
|
Environment - current issues:
|
NA |
|
Geography - note:
|
wildlife
sanctuary |
|
Population:
|
no indigenous
inhabitants
note: there is a small French military garrison and a
few meteorologists; visited by scientists (July 2004 est.) |
|
Country name:
|
conventional
long form: none
conventional short form: Europa Island
local short form: Ile Europa
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 |
|
Economy - overview:
|
no economic
activity |
|
Communications - note:
|
1 meteorological
station |
|
Waterways:
|
none |
|
Ports and harbors:
|
none; offshore
anchorage only |
|
Airports:
|
1 (2003 est.) |
|
Airports - with unpaved runways:
|
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2003 est.) |
|
Military - note:
|
defense is the
responsibility of France |
|
Disputes - international:
|
claimed by
Madagascar |
This page was last updated on 11 May, 2004
|
