_#_Disputes: the entire 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%
_#_Environment: archipelago of 2,300 islands
_#_Note: Diego Garcia, largest and southernmost island, occupies
strategic location in central Indian Ocean
_*_People
_#_Population: no permanent civilian population; formerly about 3,000
islanders
_#_Ethnic divisions: civilian inhabitants, known as the Ilois,
evacuated to Mauritius before construction of UK and US defense
facilities
_*_Government
_#_Long-form name: British Indian Ocean Territory (no short-form
name); abbreviated BIOT
_#_Type: dependent territory of the UK
_#_Capital: none
_#_Leaders:
Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
Head of Government--Commissioner and Administrator R. EDIS
(since NA 1988); note--resides in the UK
_#_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
_*_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 and
the US. There are no industrial or agricultural activities on the
islands.
_#_Electricity: provided by the US military
_*_Communications
_#_Highways: short stretch of paved road between port and airfield on
Diego Garcia
_#_Ports: Diego Garcia
_#_Airports: 1 with permanent-surface runways over 3,659 m on Diego
Garcia
_#_Telecommunications: minimal facilities; stations (operated by the
US Navy)--1 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
_*_Defense Forces
_#_Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
_%_
_@_British Virgin Islands
(dependent territory of the UK)
_*_Geography
_#_Total area: 150 km2; land area: 150 km2
_#_Comparative area: about 0.8 times the size of Washington, DC
_#_Coastline: 80 km
_#_Maritime claims:
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;