The World Factbook (1990)/Glorioso Islands

Glorioso Islands
(French possession)


 See regional map VII



Geography


Total area: 5 km²; land area: 5 km²; includes Île Glorieuse, Île du Lys, Verte Rocks, Wreck Rock, and South Rock

Comparative area: about 8.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 35.2 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 12 nm
Continental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploitation
Extended economic zone 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: claimed by Madagascar

Climate: tropical

Terrain: undetermined

Natural resources: guano, coconuts

Land use: 0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 0% meadows and pastures; 0% forest and woodland; 100% other lush vegetation and coconut palms

Environment: subject to periodic cyclones

Note: located in the Indian Ocean just north of the Mozambique Channel between Africa and Madagascar


People


Population: uninhabited


Government


Long-form name: none

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


Economy


Overview: no economic activity


Communications


Airports: 1 with runway 1,220-2,439 m

Ports: none; offshore anchorage only


Defense Forces


Note: defense is the responsibility of France