British Indian Ocean Territory
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| Geography | British Indian Ocean Territory |
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Location:
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archipelago in the Indian Ocean, south of India, about one-half the way from Africa to Indonesia |
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Geographic coordinates:
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6 00 S, 71 30 E |
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Map references:
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Political Map of the World |
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Area:
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total: 60 sq km
note: includes the entire Chagos Archipelago water: 0 sq km land: 60 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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698 km |
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Maritime claims:
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exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 3 NM |
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Climate:
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tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds |
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Terrain:
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flat and low (most areas do not exceed four meters in elevation) |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Diego Garcia 15 m |
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Natural resources:
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coconuts, fish, sugarcane |
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Land use:
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arable land: NEGL
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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0 sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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NA |
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Environment - current issues:
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NA |
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Geography - note:
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archipelago of 2,300 islands; Diego Garcia, largest and southernmost island, occupies strategic location in central Indian Ocean; island is site of joint US-UK military facility |
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