<item><hi format=bold>International disputes:</hi> claims UK-administered Chagos Archipelago, which includes the island of Diego Garcia in UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory; claims French-administered Tromelin Island
<item><hi format=bold>Climate:</hi> tropical modified by southeast trade winds; warm, dry winter (May to November); hot, wet, humid summer (November to May)
<item><hi format=bold>Terrain:</hi> small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains encircling central plateau
<item><hi format=bold>Natural resources:</hi> arable land, fish
<item><hi format=bold>Land use:</hi>
<list style=hang>
<item>• <hi format=ital>arable land:</hi> 54%
<item>• <hi format=ital>permanent crops:</hi> 4%
<item>• <hi format=ital>meadows and pastures:</hi> 4%
<item>• <hi format=ital>forest and woodland:</hi> 31%
<item>• <hi format=ital>other:</hi> 7%
</list>
<item><hi format=bold>Irrigated land:</hi> 170 sq km (1989 est.)
<item><hi format=bold>Environment:</hi>
<list style=hang>
<item>• <hi format=ital>current issues:</hi> water pollution
<item>• <hi format=ital>natural hazards:</hi> subject to cyclones (November to April); almost completely surrounded by reefs
<item>• <hi format=ital>international agreements:</hi> party to—Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling; signed, but not ratified—Law of the Sea