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

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