Glorioso Islands

§1. Glorioso Islands Introduction

Background:
  A French possession since 1892, the Glorioso Islands are composed of two
  lushly vegetated coral islands (Ile Glorieuse and Ile du Lys) and three
  rock islets. A military garrison operates a weather and radio station on
  Ile Glorieuse.

§2. Glorioso Islands Geography

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 kmē
  land: 5 kmē
  water: 0 kmē
  note: includes Ile Glorieuse, Ile du Lys, Verte Rocks, Wreck Rock, and
    South Rock

Area - comparative:
  about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
  0 km

Coastline:
  35.2 km

Maritime claims:
  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 12 m

Natural resources:
  guano, coconuts

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  other: 100% (all lush vegetation and coconut palms) (2005)

Irrigated land:
  0 kmē (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
  periodic cyclones

Environment - current issues:
  NA

Geography - note:
  the islands and rocks are surrounded by an extensive reef system

§3. Glorioso Islands People

Population:
  no indigenous inhabitants
  note: there is a small French military garrison along with a few
    meteorologists; visited by scientists (July 2006 est.)

§4. Glorioso Islands Government

Country name:
  conventional long form: none
  conventional short form: Glorioso Islands
  local long form: none
  local short form: Iles Glorieuses

Dependency status:
  possession of France; administered by the Administrateur Superieur of the
  French Southern and Antarctic Lands

Legal system:
  the laws of France, where applicable, apply

Flag description:
  the flag of France is used

§5. Glorioso Islands Economy

Economy - overview:
  no economic activity

§6. Glorioso Islands Communications

Communications - note:
  1 meteorological station

§7. Glorioso Islands Transportation

Airports:
  1 (2005)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 1
  914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2005)

Ports and terminals:
  none; offshore anchorage only

§8. Glorioso Islands Military

Military - note:
  defense is the responsibility of France

§9. Glorioso Islands Transnational Issues

Disputes - international:
  claimed by Madagascar


<Factbook 2006>
