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Introduction

Juan de Nova Island

Background:

Named after a famous 15th century Spanish navigator and explorer, the island has been a French possession since 1897. It has been exploited for its guano and phosphate. Presently a small military garrison oversees a meteorological station.

Geography

Juan de Nova Island

Location:	Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-third of the way between Madagascar and Mozambique
Geographic coordinates:	17 03 S, 42 45 E
Map references:	Africa
Area:	total: 4.4 sq km land: 4.4 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:	about seven times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:	0 km
Coastline:	24.1 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 and flat
Elevation extremes:	lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 10 m
Natural resources:	guano deposits and other fertilizers
Land use:	arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (90% forest) (2001)
Irrigated land:	0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:	periodic cyclones
Environment - current issues:	NA
Geography - note:	wildlife sanctuary

People

Juan de Nova Island

Population:

no indigenous inhabitants note: there is a small French military garrison along with a few meteorologists; occasionally visited by scientists (July 2005 est.)

Government

Juan de Nova Island

Country name:	conventional long form: none conventional short form: Juan de Nova Island local long form: none local short form: Ile Juan de Nova
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

Juan de Nova Island

Economy - overview:

Up to 12,000 tons of guano are mined per year.

Communications

Juan de Nova Island

Communications - note:

1 meteorological station

Transportation

Juan de Nova Island

Ports and harbors:	none; offshore anchorage only
Airports:	1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:	total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Juan de Nova Island

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues

Juan de Nova Island

Disputes - international:

claimed by Madagascar

Related Images

Juan de Nova Island

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This page was last updated on 17 May, 2005