| Juan de Nova Island (possession of France) |
Introduction Geography People Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Juan de Nova Island | Introduction | Top of Page

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.

Juan de Nova Island | Geography | Top of Page

Location: | Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-third of the way between Madagascar and Mozambique

Geographic coordinates: | 17 03 S, 42 45 E

Map references: | Africa

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

Land boundaries: | 0 km

Coastline: | 24.1 km

Maritime claims: | continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM

Climate: | tropical

Terrain: | low and flat

Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 10 m

Natural resources: | guano deposits and other fertilizers

Land use: | arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 90% other: 10%

Irrigated land: | 0 sq km (1993)

Natural hazards: | periodic cyclones

Environment - current issues: | NA

Geography - note: | wildlife sanctuary

Juan de Nova Island | People | Top of Page

Population: | no indigenous inhabitants note: there is a small French military garrison (July 2001 est.)

Juan de Nova Island | Government | Top of Page

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

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

Juan de Nova Island | Economy | Top of Page

Economy - overview: | Up to 12,000 tons of guano are mined per year.

Juan de Nova Island | Communications | Top of Page

Communications - note: | 1 meteorological station

Juan de Nova Island | Transportation | Top of Page

Railways: | total: NA km; short line going to a jetty

Waterways: | none

Ports and harbors: | none; offshore anchorage only

Airports: | 1 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2000 est.)

Juan de Nova Island | Military | Top of Page

Military - note: | defense is the responsibility of France

Juan de Nova Island | Transnational Issues | Top of Page

Disputes - international: | claimed by Madagascar