| 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 half way between southern Madagascar and southern Mozambique |
|
Geographic coordinates:
|
22 20 S, 40 22 E |
|
Map references:
|
Africa |
|
Area:
|
total: 28 sq km
land: 28 sq km water: 0 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 2005 est.) |
| Government | Europa Island |
|
Country name:
|
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Europa Island local long form: none local short form: Ile Europa |
|
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 |
|
Flag description:
|
the flag of France is used |
| Economy | Europa Island |
|
Economy - overview:
|
no economic activity |
|
Industries:
|
none |
| Communications | Europa Island |
|
Communications - note:
|
1 meteorological station |
| Transportation | Europa Island |
|
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 | Europa Island |
|
Military - note:
|
defense is the responsibility of France |
| Transnational Issues | Europa Island |
|
Disputes - international:
|
claimed by Madagascar |
Sources: The CIA World Fact Book and other public domain Internet sites
