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Tromelin Island | ![]() |
Introduction | Tromelin Island |
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Background: | First explored by the French in 1776, the island came under the jurisdiction of Reunion in 1814. At present, it serves as a sea turtle sanctuary and is the site of an important meteorological station. |
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Geography | Tromelin Island |
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Location: | Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar |
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Geographic coordinates: | 15 52 S, 54 25 E |
Map references: | Africa |
Area: | total: 1 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 1 sq km |
Area - comparative: | about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC |
Land boundaries: | 0 km |
Coastline: | 3.7 km |
Maritime claims: | territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation |
Climate: | tropical |
Terrain: | low, flat, and sandy; likely volcanic |
Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 7 m |
Natural resources: | fish |
Land use: | arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (grasses; scattered bushes) (2001) |
Irrigated land: | 0 sq km (1998 est.) |
Natural hazards: | NA |
Environment - current issues: | NA |
Geography - note: | climatologically important location for forecasting cyclones; wildlife sanctuary (seabirds, tortoises) |
People | Tromelin Island |
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Population: | uninhabited, except for visits by scientists (July 2004 est.) |
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Government | Tromelin Island |
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Country name: | conventional long form: none conventional short form: Tromelin Island local short form: Ile Tromelin local long form: none |
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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 |
Flag description: | the flag of France is used |
Economy | Tromelin Island |
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Economy - overview: | no economic activity |
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Communications | Tromelin Island |
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Communications - note: | important meteorological station |
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Transportation | Tromelin Island |
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Ports and harbors: | none; offshore anchorage only |
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Airports: | 1 (2003 est.) |
Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
Military | Tromelin Island |
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Military - note: | defense is the responsibility of France |
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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