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| Tromelin Island |

Introduction | Tromelin Island

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.

Geography | Tromelin Island

Location: | Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar
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

Population: | uninhabited, except for visits by scientists (July 2004 est.)

Government | Tromelin Island

Country name: | conventional long form: none conventional short form: Tromelin Island local short form: Ile Tromelin 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
Flag description: | the flag of France is used

Economy | Tromelin Island

Economy - overview: | no economic activity

Communications | Tromelin Island

Communications - note: | important meteorological station

Transportation | Tromelin Island

Ports and harbors: | none; offshore anchorage only
Airports: | 1 (2003 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military | Tromelin Island

Military - note: | defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues | Tromelin Island

Disputes - international: | claimed by Mauritius

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005