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CIA World Fact Book, 2004/Juan de Nova Island

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8032CIA World Fact Book, 2004 — Juan de Nova Island
Juan de Nova Island
map of Juan de Nova Island


Introduction Juan de Nova Island
Background: 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.


Geography Juan de Nova Island
Location: Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-third of the way between Madagascar and Mozambique
Geographic coordinates: 17 03 S, 42 45 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 4.4 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 4.4 sq km
Area - comparative: about seven times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 24.1 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate: tropical
Terrain: low and flat
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 10 m
Natural resources: guano deposits and other fertilizers
Land use: arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (90% forest) (2001)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: periodic cyclones
Environment - current issues: NA
Geography - note: wildlife sanctuary


People Juan de Nova Island
Population: no indigenous inhabitants
note: there is a small French military garrison along with a few meteorologists; occasionally visited by scientists (July 2004 est.)


Government Juan de Nova Island
Country name: conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Juan de Nova Island
local short form: Ile Juan de Nova
local long form: none
Dependency status: possession of France; administered by a high commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion
Legal system: the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (possession of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (possession of France)
Flag description: the flag of France is used


Economy Juan de Nova Island
Economy - overview: Up to 12,000 tons of guano are mined per year.


Communications Juan de Nova Island
Communications - note: 1 meteorological station


Transportation Juan de Nova Island
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
Airports: 1 (2003 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)


Military Juan de Nova Island
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France

This page was last updated on 1 January 2003


This is a snapshot of the CIA World Fact Book as it existed on 26 March 2005