e Chagos Archipelago is claimed by Mauritius
Climate:
tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds
Terrain:
flat and low (up to 4 meters in elevation)
Natural resources:
coconuts, fish
Land use:
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
0%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
100%
Irrigated land:
0 sq km
Environment:
current issues:
NA
natural hazards:
NA
international agreements:
NA
Note:
archipelago of 2,300 islands; Diego Garcia, largest and southernmost
island, occupies strategic location in central Indian Ocean; island is
site of joint US-UK military facility

@British Indian Ocean Territory, People

Population:
no indigenous inhabitants
note:
there are UK-US military personnel; civilian inhabitants, known as the
Ilois, evacuated to Mauritius before construction of UK-US military
facilities

@British Indian Ocean Territory, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
British Indian Ocean Territory
conventional short form:
none
Abbreviation:
BIOT
Digraph:
IO
Type:
dependent territory of the UK
Capital:
none
Independence:
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Executive branch:
chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government:
Commissioner Thomas GEORGE (since September 1991); Administrator Mr.
R. G. WELLS (since NA 1991); note - both reside in the UK
Diplomatic representation in US:
none (dependent territory of the UK)
US diplomatic representation:
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Flag:
white with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and six
blue wavy horizontal stripes bearing a palm tree and yellow crown
centered on the outer half of the flag

@British Indian Ocean Territory, Economy

Overview:
All economic activity is concentrated on the largest island of Diego
Garcia, where joint UK-US defense facilities are located. Construction
projects and various services needed to support the military
installations are done by military and contract employees from the UK,
Mauritius, the Philippines, and the US. There are no industrial or
agricultural activities on the islands.
Electricity:
provided by the US military

@British Indian Ocean Territory, Communications

Highways:
total:
NA
paved:
short stretch of paved road between port and airfield on Diego Garcia
unpaved:
NA
Ports:
Diego Garcia
Airports:
total:
1