The World Factbook | ||
Juan de Nova Island |
|
|
Introduction | Juan de Nova Island |
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. |
Geography | Juan de Nova Island |
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
water: 0 sq km land: 4.4 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 - as described in UNCLOS 1982 (see Notes and Definitions):
|
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation |
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% other: 100% (90% forest) (1998 est.) |
Irrigated land:
|
0 sq km (1998 est.) |
Natural hazards:
|
periodic cyclones |
Environment - current issues:
|
NA |
Geography - note:
|
wildlife sanctuary |
People | Juan de Nova Island |
Population:
|
no indigenous inhabitants
note: there is a small French military garrison along with a few meteorologists; occasionally visited by scientists (July 2004 est.) |
Government | Juan de Nova Island |
Country name:
|
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Juan de Nova Island local short form: Ile Juan de Nova 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 |
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 |
Economy | Juan de Nova Island |
Economy - overview:
|
Up to 12,000 tons of guano are mined per year. |
Communications | Juan de Nova Island |
Communications - note:
|
1 meteorological station |
Transportation | Juan de Nova Island |
Railways:
|
total: NA km; short line going to a jetty |
Waterways:
|
none |
Ports and harbors:
|
none; offshore anchorage only |
Airports:
|
1 (2003 est.) |
Airports - with unpaved runways:
|
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2003 est.) |
Military | Juan de Nova Island |
Military - note:
|
defense is the responsibility of France |
Transnational Issues | Juan de Nova Island |
Disputes - international:
|
claimed by Madagascar |
This page was last updated on 11 May, 2004 |