Bassas da India
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General Information
Introduction Bassas da India
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 an Administrateur Superieur of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands.
Geography Bassas da India
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) (2005)
Irrigated land:
 0 sq km
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
People Bassas da India
Population:
 uninhabited (July 2006 est.)
Government Bassas da India
Country name:
 conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Bassas da India
Dependency status:
 possession of France; administered by the Administrateur Superieur of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Legal system:
 the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Flag description:
 the flag of France is used
Economy Bassas da India
Economy - overview:
 no economic activity

Transportation Bassas da India
Ports and terminals:
 none; offshore anchorage only
Military Bassas da India
Military - note:
 defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues Bassas da India
Disputes - international:
 claimed by Madagascar
History
Bassas da India (also called Basse de Judie) is an uninhabited, roughly circular atoll about 10 km in diameter, which corresponds to a total size (including lagoon) of 80 km². It is located at 21°27′S 39°45′E, in the southern Mozambique Channel, about half-way between Madagascar (which is 385 km to the east) and Mozambique, and 110 km northwest of Europa Island. It rises steeply from the seabed 3000 m below. The reef rim averages around 100 m across and completely encloses a shallow lagoon that has a maximum depth of 15 m. Its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 123,700 km² is contiguous with that of Europa Island.

MapThe atoll consists of ten barren rocky islets, with no vegetation, totalling 0.2 km² in area. Those on the north and east sides are 2.1 to 3 m high, and those on the west and south sides 1.2 m. The reef is completely covered by the sea from 3 hours before to 3 hours after high tide. The coastline of the reef measures 35.2 km. The region is subject to cyclones. The atoll has long been a maritime hazard and is the site of numerous shipwrecks.

Bassas da India was first recorded by Portuguese explorers in the early 16th century. In 1897 it became a French possession, later being placed under the administration of a commissioner residing in Réunion in 1968.
Culture

Not applicable.

Last update on 29 June 2006
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