Glorioso Islands   Click to enlarge	Introduction   Geography   People   Government   Economy   Communications   Transportation   Military   Transnational Issues
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Legend: Definition of Term Arranged by Countries Field Listing    Introduction    Glorioso Islands Top of Page 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.    Geography    Glorioso Islands Top of Page 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 sq km note: includes Ile Glorieuse, Ile du Lys, Verte Rocks, Wreck Rock, and South Rock water: 0 sq km land: 5 sq km Area - comparative: about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 35.2 km Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 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) (1998 est.) Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1998 est.) Natural hazards: periodic cyclones Environment - current issues: NA Geography - note: the islands and rocks are surrounded by an extensive reef system    People    Glorioso Islands Top of Page Population: no indigenous inhabitants note: there is a small French military garrison along with a few meteorologists; visited by scientists (July 2002 est.)    Government    Glorioso Islands Top of Page Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Glorioso Islands local short form: Iles Glorieuses 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 Diplomatic representation in the US: none (possession of France) Diplomatic representation from the US: none (possession of France) Flag description: the flag of France is used    Economy    Glorioso Islands Top of Page Economy - overview: no economic activity    Communications    Glorioso Islands Top of Page Communications - note: 1 meteorological station    Transportation    Glorioso Islands Top of Page Waterways: none Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only Airports: 1 (2001) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)    Military    Glorioso Islands Top of Page Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France    Transnational Issues    Glorioso Islands Top of Page Disputes - international: claimed by Madagascar

Source:
The World Factbook 2002
Updated: 19 March 2003