Bassas da India

Bassas da India
Flag of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Motto: Liberté, égalité, fraternité
Anthem: "La Marseillaise"
Disputed island
Geography
LocationMozambique Channel
Coordinates21°29′S 39°41′E / 21.483°S 39.683°E / -21.483; 39.683
Administration
Overseas territoryFrench Southern and Antarctic Lands
DistrictScattered Islands in the Indian Ocean
Claimed by

Bassas da India (French pronunciation: [basa da ɛ̃dja]; Malagasy: Nosy Bedimaky) is an uninhabited, roughly circular atoll located in the southern Mozambique Channel, about halfway between Mozambique and Madagascar (about 385 km [239 mi] further east) and around 110 km (68 mi) northwest of Europa Island. It is administered by France as part of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands, though it is claimed by Madagascar. The rim of the atoll averages around 100 metres (330 ft) in width and encloses a shallow lagoon of depth no greater than 15 m (49 ft). Overall, the atoll is about 10 km (6.2 mi) in diameter, rising steeply from the seabed 3,000 metres (9,800 ft) below to encircle an area (including lagoon) of 80 km2 (31 sq mi). Its exclusive economic zone, 123,700 km2 (47,800 sq mi) in size, is contiguous with that of Europa Island.[1]

The atoll consists of ten barren rocky islets, with no vegetation, totaling 20 hectares (49 acres) in area. Those on the north and east sides are 2.1 to 3.0 metres (7 to 10 ft) high, while those on the west and south sides are 1.2 metres (4 ft) high. The reef, whose coastline measures 35.2 km (21.9 mi), is entirely covered by the sea from three hours before high tide to three hours afterward. The region is also subject to cyclones, making the atoll a long-time maritime hazard and the site of numerous shipwrecks.

Jaguar Seamount and Hall Tablemount lie, respectively, about 40 and 70 kilometres (25 and 43 mi) further southwest.

  1. ^ Décret n° 78-146 du 3 février 1978 portant création, en application de la loi du 16 juillet 1976, d'une zone économique au large des côtes des îles Tromelin, Glorieuses, Juan-de-Nova, Europa et Bassas-da-India (Decree 78-146) (in French). Government of France. 3 February 1978.

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