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| Europa Island |

Introduction | Europa Island

Background: | A French possession since 1897, the island is heavily wooded; it is the site of a small military garrison that staffs a weather station.

Geography | Europa Island

Location: | Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from southern Madagascar to southern Mozambique
Geographic coordinates: | 22 20 S, 40 22 E
Map references: | Africa
Area: | total: 28 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 28 sq km
Area - comparative: | about 0.16 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: | 0 km
Coastline: | 22.2 km
Maritime claims: | territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: | tropical
Terrain: | low and flat
Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 24 m
Natural resources: | NEGL
Land use: | arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (mangrove forests and woodlands) (2001)
Irrigated land: | 0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: | NA
Environment - current issues: | NA
Geography - note: | wildlife sanctuary

People | Europa Island

Population: | no indigenous inhabitants note: there is a small French military garrison and a few meteorologists; visited by scientists (July 2004 est.)

Government | Europa Island

Country name: | conventional long form: none conventional short form: Europa Island local short form: Ile Europa 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 | Europa Island

Economy - overview: | no economic activity

Communications | Europa Island

Communications - note: | 1 meteorological station

Transportation | Europa Island

Ports and harbors: | none; offshore anchorage only
Airports: | 1 (2003 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military | Europa Island

Military - note: | defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues | Europa Island

Disputes - international: | claimed by Madagascar

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005