Europa Island Facts

Facts & Information For Europa Island

Introduction

Background:

A French possession since 1897, the island is heavily wooded; it is the site of a small military garrison that staffs a weather station.

Geography

Location:	Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from southern Madagascar to southern Mozambique
Geographic coordinates:	22 20 S, 40 22 E
Map references:	Africa
Area:	total: 28 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 28 sq km
Area - comparative:	about 0.16 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:	0 km
Coastline:	22.2 km
Maritime claims - as described in UNCLOS 1982 (see Notes and Definitions):	territorial sea: 12 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Climate:	tropical
Terrain:	low and flat
Elevation extremes:	lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 24 m
Natural resources:	NEGL
Land use:	arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (mangrove forests and woodlands) (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:	0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:	NA
Environment - current issues:	NA
Geography - note:	wildlife sanctuary

People

Population:

no indigenous inhabitants
note: there is a small French military garrison and a few meteorologists; visited by scientists (July 2004 est.)

Government

Country name:	conventional long form: none conventional short form: Europa Island local short form: Ile Europa 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
Flag description:	the flag of France is used

Economy

Economy - overview:

no economic activity

Communications

Communications - note:

1 meteorological station

Transportation

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

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international:

claimed by Madagascar