BASSAS DA INDIA                                                                 
(French possession)                                                             
GEOGRAPHY                                                                       
Total area: undetermined                                                        
                                                                                
Comparative area: undetermined                                                  
                                                                                
Land boundaries: none                                                           
                                                                                
Coastline: 35.2 km                                                              
                                                                                
Maritime claims:                                                                
                                                                                
Contiguous zone: 12 nm;                                                         
                                                                                
Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation;                   
                                                                                
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;                                                
                                                                                
Territorial sea: 12 nm                                                          
                                                                                
Disputes: claimed by Madagascar                                                 
                                                                                
Climate: tropical                                                               
                                                                                
Terrain: a volcanic rock 2.4 m high                                             
                                                                                
Natural resources: none                                                         
                                                                                
Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and                       
pastures 0%; forest and woodland 0%; other (rock) 100%                          
                                                                                
Environment: surrounded by reefs; subject to periodic cyclones                  
                                                                                
Note: navigational hazard since it is usually under water during                
high tide; located in southern Mozambique Channel about halfway between         
Africa and Madagascar                                                           
PEOPLE                                                                          
Population: uninhabited                                                         
                                                                                
GOVERNMENT                                                                      
Long-form name: none                                                            
                                                                                
Type: French possession administered by Commissioner of the                     
Republic Daniel CONSTANTIN, resident in Reunion                                 
                                                                                
ECONOMY                                                                         
Overview: no economic activity                                                  
                                                                                
COMMUNICATIONS                                                                  
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only                                            
                                                                                
DEFENSE FORCES                                                                  
Note: defense is the responsibility of France                                   
                                                                                
