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Introduction

Bassas da India

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Background:

This atoll is a volcanic rock surrounded by reefs and is awash at high tide. A French possession since 1897, it was placed under the administration of a commissioner residing in Reunion in 1968. Learn geography the easy way by playing ZL's Geographycards (www.geographycards.com)

Geography

Bassas da India

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Location:	Southern Africa, islands in the southern Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from Madagascar to Mozambique
Geographic coordinates:	21 30 S, 39 50 E
Map references:	Africa
Area:	total: 0.2 sq km land: 0.2 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:	about one-third the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:	0 km
Coastline:	35.2 km
Maritime claims:	territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:	tropical
Terrain:	volcanic rock
Elevation extremes:	lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 2.4 m
Natural resources:	none
Land use:	arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (all rock) (2001)
Irrigated land:	0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:	maritime hazard since it is usually under water during high tide and surrounded by reefs; subject to periodic cyclones
Environment - current issues:	NA
Geography - note:	the islands emerge from a circular reef that sits atop a long-extinct, submerged volcano Learn geography the easy way by playing ZL's Geographycards (www.geographycards.com)

People

Bassas da India

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Population:

uninhabited (July 2004 est.) Learn geography the easy way by playing ZL's Geographycards (www.geographycards.com)

Government

Bassas da India

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Country name:	conventional long form: none conventional short form: Bassas da India
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
Flag description:	the flag of France is used Learn geography the easy way by playing ZL's Geographycards (www.geographycards.com)

Economy

Bassas da India

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Economy - overview:

no economic activity Learn geography the easy way by playing ZL's Geographycards (www.geographycards.com)

Transportation

Bassas da India

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Ports and harbors:

none; offshore anchorage only Learn geography the easy way by playing ZL's Geographycards (www.geographycards.com)

Military

Bassas da India

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Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of France Learn geography the easy way by playing ZL's Geographycards (www.geographycards.com)

Transnational Issues

Bassas da India

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Disputes - international:

claimed by Madagascar

Large portions of this information is from the US government open source publication "The World Factbook", other content copyright © Stratus-Pikpuk, Inc. You may use this information without permission for educational or other non-profit purposes if you refer to us as the source, contact us if you want to use this commercially.