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Compare British Indian Ocean Territory (2002) - Europa Island (2002)

Compare British Indian Ocean Territory (2002) z Europa Island (2002)

 British Indian Ocean Territory (2002)Europa Island (2002)
 British Indian Ocean TerritoryEuropa Island
Airports 1 (2001) 1 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
-
Airports - with unpaved runways - total: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Area total: 60 sq km


land: 60 sq km


water: 0 sq km


note: includes the entire Chagos Archipelago
total: 28 sq km


land: 28 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC about 0.16 times the size of Washington, DC
Background Established as a territory of the UK in 1965, a number of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) islands were transferred to the Seychelles when it attained independence in 1976. Subsequently, BIOT has consisted only of the six main island groups comprising the Chagos Archipelago. The largest and most southerly of the islands, Diego Garcia, contains a joint UK-US naval support facility. All of the remaining islands are uninhabited. Former agricultural workers, earlier residents in the islands, were relocated primarily to Mauritius but also to the Seychelles, between 1967 and 1973. In 2000, a British High Court ruling invalidated the local immigration order which had excluded them from the archipelago, but upheld the special military status of Diego Garcia. A French possession since 1897, the island is heavily wooded; it is the site of a small military garrison that staffs a weather station.
Climate tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds tropical
Coastline 698 km 22.2 km
Country name conventional long form: British Indian Ocean Territory


conventional short form: none


abbreviation: BIOT
conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Europa Island


local long form: none


local short form: Ile Europa
Dependency status overseas territory of the UK; administered by a commissioner, resident in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London possession of France; administered by a high commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion
Diplomatic representation from the US none (overseas territory of the UK) -
Diplomatic representation in the US none (overseas territory of the UK) -
Disputes - international Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Archipelago and its former inhabitants, who reside chiefly in Mauritius, but in 2001 were granted UK citizenship and the right to repatriation since eviction in 1965; repatriation is complicated by the US military lease of Diego Garcia, the largest island in the chain claimed by Madagascar
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, Mauritius, the Philippines, and the US. There are no industrial or agricultural activities on the islands. When the Ilois return, they plan to reestablish sugarcane production and fishing. no economic activity
Electricity - consumption NA kWh -
Electricity - production NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by the US military -
Elevation extremes lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m


highest point: unnamed location on Diego Garcia 15 m
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m


highest point: unnamed location 24 m
Environment - current issues NA NA
Executive branch chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)


head of government: Commissioner Alan HUCKLE (since 2001); Administrator Louise SAVILL (since NA); note - both reside in the UK


cabinet: NA


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; commissioner and administrator appointed by the monarch
-
Flag description white with six blue wavy horizontal stripes; the flag of the UK is in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the striped section bears a palm tree and yellow crown centered on the outer half of the flag the flag of France is used
Geographic coordinates 6 00 S, 71 30 E 22 20 S, 40 22 E
Geography - note archipelago of 2,300 islands; Diego Garcia, largest and southernmost island, occupies strategic location in central Indian Ocean; island is site of joint US-UK military facility wildlife sanctuary
Highways total: NA km


paved: short stretch of paved road of NA km between port and airfield on Diego Garcia


unpaved: NA km
-
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 1 (2000) -
Irrigated land 0 sq km (1998 est.) 0 sq km (1998 est.)
Land boundaries 0 km 0 km
Land use arable land: NEGL


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100% (1998 est.)
arable land: 0%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100% (mangrove forests and woodlands) (1998 est.)
Legal system the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Location Southern Asia, archipelago in the Indian Ocean, about one-half the way from Africa to Indonesia Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from southern Madagascar to southern Mozambique
Map references Political Map of the World Africa
Maritime claims exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 3 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the UK; the US lease on Diego Garcia expires in 2016 defense is the responsibility of France
Natural hazards NA NA
Natural resources coconuts, fish, sugarcane NEGL
Population no indigenous inhabitants


note: approximately 1,200 former agricultural workers resident in the Chagos Archipelago, often referred to as Chagossians or Ilois, were relocated to Mauritius and the Seychelles around the time of the construction of UK-US military facilities; in 2001, there were approximately 1,500 UK and US military personnel and 2,000 civilian contractors living on the island of Diego Garcia (July 2002 est.)
no indigenous inhabitants


note: there is a small French military garrison and a few meteorologists; visited by scientists (July 2002 est.)
Ports and harbors Diego Garcia none; offshore anchorage only
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998) -
Radios NA -
Telephone system general assessment: separate facilities for military and public needs are available


domestic: all commercial telephone services are available, including connection to the Internet


international: international telephone service is carried by satellite (2000)
-
Telephones - main lines in use NA -
Television broadcast stations 1 (1997) -
Terrain flat and low (most areas do not exceed four meters in elevation) low and flat
Waterways none none
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