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Scattered islands in the Indian Ocean

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The Scattered islands in the Indian Ocean (French: Îles Éparses or Îles éparses de l'océan indien) comprise four small coral islands and an atoll in the Indian Ocean. They have no permanent population. Three of the islands, Glorieuses, Juan de Nova and Europa, as well as the Bassas da India atoll lie in the Mozambique Channel west of Madagascar, while the fourth island, Tromelin, is about 220 miles east of Madagascar. Also in the Mozambique Channel is Banc du Geyser, not claimed by any nation until 1976 when it was annexed by Madagascar.

According to new law 2007-224 of February 21, 2007, the Scattered Islands constitute the 5th district of French Southern and Antarctic Territories

The islands have been classified as nature reserves. They support meteorological stations, except Bassas da India. The meteorological stations on the Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova and Europa Island are automated. The station on Tromelin island in particular provides warning of cyclones threatening Madagascar, Réunion or Mauritius. Each of the islands, except Bassas da India has an airstrip of more than 1,000 metres. Mauritius, the Comoro Islands, Seychelles and Madagascar dispute France's sovereignty over the islands. Mauritius claims Tromelin; the Comoro Islands and the Seychelles claim the Glorioso Islands, and Madagascar the remaining islands.

Overview

Atoll/Island Station
Staff 		Area
km² 		Lagoon
km² 		EEZ
km² 		Coordinates Location
Glorioso Islands 11 5 29.6 48350 North Mozambique Channel
Juan de Nova 14 4.4 (1) 61050 Central Mozambique Channel
Bassas da India - 0.2 79.8 123700 South Mozambique Channel
Europa Island 12 28 9 127300 South Mozambique Channel
Tromelin 19 0.8 - 280000 Western Indian Ocean
Total 56 38.6 118.4 640400  

Individual islands

Administration

Since January 3, 2005, the Îles Éparses have been administered on behalf of the French state by the senior administrator of the French Southern and Antarctic Territories (TAAF — les Terres Australes et Antartiques Francaises), based in Réunion. The Îles Éparses had previously been under the administration of the prefect of Réunion since the independence of Madagascar in 1960. France maintains a military garrison of around 14 troops on each of the islands in the Mozambique Channel, which are claimed by Madagascar. The Glorieuses islands are also claimed by the Comoros, while Mauritius claims Tromelin Island.

France claims an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 200 nautical miles around each of the small islands in the Îles Éparses, which together with the EEZ claims for the islands of Réunion and Mayotte totals more than one million square kilometres in the western Indian Ocean. There is considerable overlap of the EEZ with the neighbouring states.

See also

External links





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