l 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)
Leaders:
Chief of State:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
Head of Government:
Commissioner Mr. T. G. HARRIS (since NA); Administrator Mr. R. G. WELLS
(since NA 1991); note - both reside in the UK
Diplomatic representation in US:
none (dependent territory of 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:
short stretch of paved road between port and airfield on Diego Garcia
Ports:
Diego Garcia
Airports:
total:
1
usable:
1
with permanent-surface runways:
1
with runways over 3,659 m:
1 on Diego Garcia
with runways 2,439-3,659 m:
0
with runways 1,229-2,439 m:
0
Telecommunications:
minimal facilities; broadcast stations (operated by US Navy) - 1 AM, 1 FM, 1
TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*British Indian Ocean Territory, Defense Forces

Note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK

*British Virgin Islands, Header

Affiliation:
(dependent territory of the UK)

*British Virgin Islands, Geography

Location:
in the eastern Caribbean Sea, about 110 km east of Puerto Rico
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total area:
150 km2