Tromelin Island

Tromelin Island is an uninhabited French possession in the Indian Ocean with no permanent population and no local language.
It hosts a small rotating French meteorological station staff, where French is the language of administration.

(possession of France)

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 sq km
land: 1 sq km
water : 0 sq km

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

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 3.7 km

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

Climate: tropical

Terrain: sandy

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%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other : 100% (scattered bushes)

Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)

Natural hazards: NA

Environment - current issues: NA

Environment - international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA

Geography - note: climatologically important location for forecasting cyclones; wildlife sanctuary

People

Population: uninhabited

Government

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

Data code: TE

Dependency status: possession of France; administered by a high commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion

Flag description: the flag of France is used

Economy

Economy - overview: no economic activity

Communications

Communications - note: important meteorological station

Transportation

Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only

Airports: 1

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m : 1 (1996 est.)

Military

Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: claimed by Madagascar, Mauritius, and Seychelles