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Background:
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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. |
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Location:
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Southern
Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about
one-third of the way between Madagascar and Mozambique
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Geographic coordinates:
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17 03 S,
42 45 E |
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Map references:
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Africa
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Area:
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total:
4.4 sq km
land: 4.4 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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about
seven times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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24.1 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of
exploitation |
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Climate:
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tropical
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Terrain:
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low and
flat |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest
point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 10 m |
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Natural resources:
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guano
deposits and other fertilizers |
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Land use:
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arable
land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (90% forest) (2001) |
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Irrigated land:
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0 sq km
(1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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periodic
cyclones |
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Environment - current issues:
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NA |
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Geography - note:
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wildlife
sanctuary |
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Population:
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no
indigenous inhabitants
note: there is a small French military garrison
along with a few meteorologists; occasionally visited by
scientists (July 2005 est.) |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Juan de Nova Island
local long form: none
local short form: Ile Juan de Nova |
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Dependency status:
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possession of France; administered by the Administrateur
Superieur of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands
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Legal system:
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the laws
of France, where applicable, apply |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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none
(possession of France) |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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none
(possession of France) |
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Flag description:
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the flag
of France is used |
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Economy - overview:
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Up to
12,000 tons of guano are mined per year. |
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Communications - note:
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1
meteorological station |
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Ports and harbors:
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none;
offshore anchorage only |
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Airports:
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1 (2004
est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total:
1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
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Military - note:
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defense
is the responsibility of France |
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Disputes - international:
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claimed
by Madagascar |
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This page was last updated on
20 October, 2005 |
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