Juan de Nova Island

   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
                                        water: 0 sq km
                                        land: 4.4 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: continental shelf: 200-m depth or to
                                        the depth of exploitation
                                        exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
                                        territorial sea: 12 NM
                               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) (1998 est.)
                        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 (July 2002 est.)
                 Population growth rate: NA
  
   Government Juan de Nova Island
   ------------------------------
                          Country name: conventional long form: none
                                        conventional short form: Juan de
                                        Nova Island
                                        local short form: Ile Juan de Nova
                                        local long form: none
                     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 none (possession of France)
                                    US:
                      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
   ----------------------------------
                               Railways: total: NA km; short line going to a
                                         jetty
                              Waterways: none
                      Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
                               Airports: 1 (2001)
        Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1
                                         914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2001)
  
   Military Juan de Nova Island
   ----------------------------
                          Military - note: defense is the responsibility of
                                           France
  
   Transnational Issues Juan de Nova Island
   ----------------------------------------
                             Disputes - international: claimed by Madagascar