Tromelin Island

§1. Tromelin Island Introduction

Background:
  First explored by the French in 1776, the island came under the
  jurisdiction of Reunion in 1814. At present, it serves as a sea turtle
  sanctuary and is the site of an important meteorological station.

§2. Tromelin Island Geography

Location:
  Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar

Geographic coordinates:
  15 52 S, 54 25 E

Map references:
  Africa

Area:
  total: 1 kmē
  land: 1 kmē
  water: 0 kmē

Area - comparative:
  about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
  0 km

Coastline:
  3.7 km

Maritime claims:
  territorial sea: 12 nm
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:
  tropical

Terrain:
  low, flat, and sandy; likely volcanic

Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
  highest point: unnamed location 7 m

Natural resources:
  fish

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  other: 100% (grasses; scattered bushes) (2005)

Irrigated land:
  0 kmē (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
  NA

Environment - current issues:
  NA

Geography - note:
  climatologically important location for forecasting cyclones; wildlife
  sanctuary (seabirds, tortoises)

§3. Tromelin Island People

Population:
  uninhabited, except for visits by scientists (July 2006 est.)

§4. Tromelin Island Government

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

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. Tromelin Island Economy

Economy - overview:
  no economic activity

§6. Tromelin Island Communications

Communications - note:
  important meteorological station

§7. Tromelin Island Transportation

Airports:
  1 (2005)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 1
  under 914 m: 1 (2005)

Ports and terminals:
  none; offshore anchorage only

§8. Tromelin Island Military

Military - note:
  defense is the responsibility of France

§9. Tromelin Island Transnational Issues

Disputes - international:
  claimed by Mauritius


<Factbook 2006>
