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| Glorioso Islands |

Introduction | Glorioso Islands

Background: | A French possession since 1892, the Glorioso Islands are composed of two lushly vegetated coral islands (Ile Glorieuse and Ile du Lys) and three rock islets. A military garrison operates a weather and radio station on Ile Glorieuse.

Geography | Glorioso Islands

Location: | Southern Africa, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, northwest of Madagascar
Geographic coordinates: | 11 30 S, 47 20 E
Map references: | Africa
Area: | total: 5 sq km land: 5 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Ile Glorieuse, Ile du Lys, Verte Rocks, Wreck Rock, and South Rock
Area - comparative: | about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries: | 0 km
Coastline: | 35.2 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 12 m
Natural resources: | guano, coconuts
Land use: | arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (all lush vegetation and coconut palms) (2001)
Irrigated land: | 0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: | periodic cyclones
Environment - current issues: | NA
Geography - note: | the islands and rocks are surrounded by an extensive reef system

People | Glorioso Islands

Population: | no indigenous inhabitants note: there is a small French military garrison along with a few meteorologists; visited by scientists (July 2005 est.)

Government | Glorioso Islands

Country name: | conventional long form: none conventional short form: Glorioso Islands local long form: none local short form: Iles Glorieuses
Dependency status: | possession of France; administered by the Administrateur Superieur of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands
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

Economy | Glorioso Islands

Economy - overview: | no economic activity

Communications | Glorioso Islands

Communications - note: | 1 meteorological station

Transportation | Glorioso Islands

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

Military | Glorioso Islands

Military - note: | defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues | Glorioso Islands

Disputes - international: | claimed by Madagascar

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005