Glorioso Islands

(possession of France)

Geography

Location: Southern Africa, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, northwest of Madagascar

Map references: Africa

Area:
total area: 5 sq km
land area: 5 sq km
comparative area: about 8.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
note: includes Ile Glorieuse, Ile du Lys, Verte Rocks, Wreck Rock, and South Rock

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 35.2 km

Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: claimed by Madagascar

Climate: tropical

Terrain: NA

Natural resources: guano, coconuts

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (all lush vegetation and coconut palms)

Irrigated land: 0 sq km

Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: periodic cyclones
international agreements: NA

People

Population: uninhabited

Government

Names:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Glorioso Islands
local long form: none
local short form: Iles Glorieuses

Digraph: GO

Type: French possession administered by Commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion

Capital: none; administered by France from Reunion

Independence: none (possession of France)

Economy

Overview: no economic activity

Transportation

Ports: none; offshore anchorage only

Airports:
total: 1
with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1

Defense Forces

Note: defense is the responsibility of France