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GEOGRAPHY
Location:
Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar
comparative
area: slightly less than 10.5 times the size of Washington,
DC
note:
includes Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (Saint Brandon),
and Rodrigues
continental
shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive
economic zone: 200 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
Irrigated
land: 170 sq km (1989 est.)
current
issues: water pollution
natural
hazards: cyclones (November to April); almost completely surrounded
by reefs that may pose maritime hazards
international
agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of
the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection
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