Location:
Southern Africa, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, northwest of
Madagascar
Geographic coordinates:
11 30 S, 47 20 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 5 sq km
note: includes Ile Glorieuse, Ile du Lys, Verte Rocks, Wreck Rock,
and South Rock
water: 0 sq km
land: 5 sq km
Area - comparative:
about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
35.2 km
Maritime claims:
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 12 m
Natural resources:
guano, coconuts
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (all lush vegetation and coconut palms) (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
periodic cyclones
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
the islands and rocks are surrounded by an extensive reef system