Tromelin Island: Background & Geography

Introduction Tromelin Island
Background:
 First explored by the French in 1776, the island came under the jurisdiction of Reunion in 1814. At present, it serves as a sea turtle sanctuary and is the site of an important meteorological station.
Geography Tromelin Island
Location:
 Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar
Geographic coordinates:
 15 52 S, 54 25 E
Map references:
 Africa
Area:
 total: 1 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 1 sq km
Area - comparative:
 about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
 0 km
Coastline:
 3.7 km
Maritime claims - as described in UNCLOS 1982 (see Notes and Definitions):
 territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
 tropical
Terrain:
 low, flat, and sandy; likely volcanic
Elevation extremes:
 lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 7 m
Natural resources:
 fish
Land use:
 arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (grasses; scattered bushes) (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
 0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
 NA
Environment - current issues:
 NA
Geography - note:
 climatologically important location for forecasting cyclones; wildlife sanctuary (seabirds, tortoises)

See Also: