Europa Island

§1. 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.

§2. Europa Island Geography

Location:
  Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about half way between
  southern Madagascar and southern Mozambique

Geographic coordinates:
  22 20 S, 40 22 E

Map references:
  Africa

Area:
  total: 28 kmē
  land: 28 kmē
  water: 0 kmē

Area - comparative:
  about 0.16 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
  0 km

Coastline:
  22.2 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 24 m

Natural resources:
  NEGL

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  other: 100% (mangrove forests and woodlands) (2005)

Irrigated land:
  0 kmē (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
  NA

Environment - current issues:
  NA

Geography - note:
  wildlife sanctuary

§3. Europa Island People

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

§4. Europa Island Government

Country name:
  conventional long form: none
  conventional short form: Europa Island
  local long form: none
  local short form: Ile Europa

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. Europa Island Economy

Economy - overview:
  no economic activity

§6. Europa Island Communications

Communications - note:
  1 meteorological station

§7. Europa Island 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. Europa Island Military

Military - note:
  defense is the responsibility of France

§9. Europa Island Transnational Issues

Disputes - international:
  claimed by Madagascar


<Factbook 2006>
