(possession of France)
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Juan de Nova Island (possession of France) |
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| Introduction Geography People Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues | ||
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| Juan de Nova Island | Introduction | Top of Page |
| Background: | Named after a famous 15th century Spanish navigator and explorer, the island has been a French possession since 1897. It has been exploited for its guano and phosphate. Presently a small military garrison oversees a meteorological station. |
| Juan de Nova Island | Geography | Top of Page |
| Location: | Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-third of the way between Madagascar and Mozambique |
| Geographic coordinates: | 17 03 S, 42 45 E |
| Map references: | Africa |
| Area: |
total:
4.4 sq km
land: 4.4 sq km water: 0 sq km |
| Area - comparative: | about seven times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC |
| Land boundaries: | 0 km |
| Coastline: | 24.1 km |
| Maritime claims: |
continental shelf:
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM |
| Climate: | tropical |
| Terrain: | low and flat |
| Elevation extremes: |
lowest point:
Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 10 m |
| Natural resources: | guano deposits and other fertilizers |
| Land use: |
arable land:
0%
permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 90% other: 10% |
| Irrigated land: | 0 sq km (1993) |
| Natural hazards: | periodic cyclones |
| Environment - current issues: | NA |
| Geography - note: | wildlife sanctuary |
| Juan de Nova Island | People | Top of Page |
| Population: |
no indigenous inhabitants
note: there is a small French military garrison (July 2001 est.) |
| Juan de Nova Island | Government | Top of Page |
| Country name: |
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form: Juan de Nova Island local long form: none local short form: Ile Juan de Nova |
| 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 |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | none (possession of France) |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | none (possession of France) |
| Flag description: | the flag of France is used |
| Juan de Nova Island | Economy | Top of Page |
| Economy - overview: | Up to 12,000 tons of guano are mined per year. |
| Juan de Nova Island | Communications | Top of Page |
| Communications - note: | 1 meteorological station |
| Juan de Nova Island | Transportation | Top of Page |
| Railways: | total: NA km; short line going to a jetty |
| Waterways: | none |
| Ports and harbors: | none; offshore anchorage only |
| Airports: | 1 (2000 est.) |
| Airports - with unpaved runways: |
total:
1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2000 est.) |
| Juan de Nova Island | Military | Top of Page |
| Military - note: | defense is the responsibility of France |
| Juan de Nova Island | Transnational Issues | Top of Page |
| Disputes - international: | claimed by Madagascar |