10 February, 2005

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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

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