CATEGORIES
◆ COMMUNICATIONS(1 fields)
Communications - note
1 meteorological station
◆ ECONOMY(1 fields)
Economy - overview
Up to 12,000 tons of guano are mined per year.
◆ GEOGRAPHY(17 fields)
Area
total: 4.4 sq km land: 4.4 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative
about seven times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Climate
tropical
Coastline
24.1 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 10 m
Environment - current issues
NA
Geographic coordinates
17 03 S, 42 45 E
Geography - note
wildlife sanctuary
Irrigated land
0 sq km (1993)
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 90% other: 10%
Location
Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-third of the way between Madagascar and Mozambique
Map references
Africa
Maritime claims
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Natural hazards
periodic cyclones
Natural resources
guano deposits and other fertilizers
Terrain
low and flat
◆ GOVERNMENT(6 fields)
Country name
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Juan de Nova Island local long form: none local short form: Ile Juan de Nova
Dependency status
possession of France; administered by a high commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion
Diplomatic representation from the US
none (possession of France)
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (possession of France)
Flag description
the flag of France is used
Legal system
the laws of France, where applicable, apply
◆ INTRODUCTION(1 fields)
Background
Named after a famous 15th century Spanish navigator and explorer, the island has been a French possession since 1897. It has been exploited for its guano and phosphate. Presently a small military garrison oversees a meteorological station.
◆ MILITARY(1 fields)
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of France
◆ PEOPLE(1 fields)
Population
no indigenous inhabitants note: there is a small French military garrison (July 2001 est.)
◆ TRANSNATIONAL ISSUES(1 fields)
Disputes - international
claimed by Madagascar
◆ TRANSPORTATION(5 fields)
Airports
1 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2000 est.)
Ports and harbors
none; offshore anchorage only
Railways
total: NA km; short line going to a jetty
Waterways
none