Location

Southern Africa, in the western Indian Ocean, 900 km east of Madagascar

Map References

Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World

Size

• Area:
  • total area: 1,860 sq. km
  • land area: 1,850 sq. km
  • comparative area: slightly less than 10.5 times the size of Washington, DC
  • note: includes Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (Saint Brandon), and Rodrigues
• Land boundaries: 0 km
• Coastline: 177 km
• Maritime claims:
  • contiguous zone: 24 nm
  • continental shelf: 200 nm or the edge of continental margin
  • exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  • territorial sea: 12 nm

International Disputes

claims UK-administered Chagos Archipelago, which includes the island of Diego Garcia in UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory; claims French-administered Tromelin Island

Climate

tropical modified by southeast trade winds; warm, dry winter (May to November); hot, wet, humid summer (November to May)

Terrain

small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains encircling central plateau

Natural Resources

arable land, fish

Land Use

• arable land: 54%
• permanent crops: 4%
• meadows and pastures: 4%
• forest and woodland: 31%
• other: 7%

Irrigated Land

170 sq. km (1989 est.)

Environment

subject to cyclones (November to April); almost completely surrounded by reefs