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.

Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-third of the way between Madagascar and Mozambique

17 03 S, 42 45 E

total: 4.4 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 4.4 sq km

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

tropical

low and flat

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 10 m

guano deposits and other fertilizers

periodic cyclones

wildlife sanctuary

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

possession of France; administered by a high commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion

Up to 12,000 tons of guano are mined per year.

1 meteorological station

none; offshore anchorage only

1 (2003 est.)

total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2003 est.)

defense is the responsibility of France

claimed by Madagascar