From Wikisource
 |
Glorioso Islands |
 |
| Introduction |
Glorioso Islands |
| Background: |
A French possession since 1892, the Glorioso Islands are composed of two lushly vegetated coral islands (Ile Glorieuse and Ile du Lys) and three rock islets. A military garrison operates a weather and radio station on Ile Glorieuse. |
| Geography |
Glorioso Islands |
| Location: |
Southern Africa, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, northwest of Madagascar |
| Geographic coordinates: |
11 30 S, 47 20 E |
| Map references: |
Africa |
| Area: |
total: 5 sq km
note: includes Ile Glorieuse, Ile du Lys, Verte Rocks, Wreck Rock, and South Rock
water: 0 sq km
land: 5 sq km |
| Area - comparative: |
about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC |
| Land boundaries: |
0 km |
| Coastline: |
35.2 km |
| Maritime claims: |
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
| Climate: |
tropical |
| Terrain: |
low and flat |
| Elevation extremes: |
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 12 m |
| Natural resources: |
guano, coconuts |
| Land use: |
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (all lush vegetation and coconut palms) (2001) |
| Irrigated land: |
0 sq km (1998 est.) |
| Natural hazards: |
periodic cyclones |
| Environment - current issues: |
NA |
| Geography - note: |
the islands and rocks are surrounded by an extensive reef system |
| Population: |
no indigenous inhabitants
note: there is a small French military garrison along with a few meteorologists; visited by scientists (July 2004 est.) |
| Government |
Glorioso Islands |
| Country name: |
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Glorioso Islands
local short form: Iles Glorieuses
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 - overview: |
no economic activity |
| Communications |
Glorioso Islands |
| Communications - note: |
1 meteorological station |
| Transportation |
Glorioso Islands |
| Ports and harbors: |
none; offshore anchorage only |
| Airports: |
1 (2003 est.) |
| Airports - with unpaved runways: |
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
| Military |
Glorioso Islands |
| Military - note: |
defense is the responsibility of France |
This page was last updated on 1 January 2003
This is a snapshot of the CIA World Fact Book as it existed on 26 March 2005
.gif)
