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Europa Island
Background:
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A French possession since 1897, the island is heavily wooded; it is the site of a small military garrison that staffs a weather station. |
Location:
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Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from southern Madagascar to southern Mozambique
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Geographic coordinates: | 22 20 S, 40 22 E
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Map references:
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Africa
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Area:
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total: 28 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 28 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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about 0.16 times the size of Washington, DC
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Land boundaries:
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0 km
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Coastline:
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22.2 km
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Maritime claims - as described in UNCLOS 1982 (see Notes and Definitions):
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territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
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Climate:
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tropical
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Terrain:
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low and flat
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 24 m
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Natural resources:
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NEGL
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Land use:
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arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (mangrove forests and woodlands) (1998 est.)
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Irrigated land:
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0 sq km (1998 est.)
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Natural hazards:
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NA
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Environment - current issues:
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NA
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Geography - note:
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wildlife sanctuary
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Population:
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no indigenous inhabitants
note: there is a small French military garrison and a few meteorologists; visited by scientists (July 2004 est.)
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Country name:
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conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Europa Island
local short form: Ile Europa
local long form: none
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Dependency status:
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possession of France; administered by a high commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion
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Legal system:
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the laws of France, where applicable, apply
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Flag description:
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the flag of France is used
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Economy - overview:
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no economic activity
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Communications |
Europa Island |
Communications - note:
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1 meteorological station
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Transportation |
Europa Island |
Waterways:
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none
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Ports and harbors:
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none; offshore anchorage only
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Airports:
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1 (2003 est.)
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2003 est.)
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Military - note:
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defense is the responsibility of France
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Transnational Issues |
Europa Island |
Disputes - international:
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claimed by Madagascar
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