total area: 60 sq km
land area: 60 sq km
comparative area: about 0.5 times the size of Washington, DC
note: includes the entire Chagos Archipelago
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 698 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm
International disputes: the island of Diego Garcia is claimed by
Mauritius
Climate: tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds
Terrain: flat and low (up to four meters in elevation) lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Diego Garcia 15 m
Natural resources: coconuts, fish
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 100%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km
Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA
Geographic note: 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
People———
Population: no indigenous inhabitants note: there are UK-US military personnel and civilian contractors; civilian inhabitants, known as the Ilois, evacuated to Mauritius before construction of UK-US military facilities
Government—————
Name of country:
conventional long form: British Indian Ocean Territory
conventional short form: none
abbreviation: BIOT
Data code: IO
Type of government: dependent territory of the UK
Capital: none
Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (of the United Kingdom since 6
February 1952) is a hereditary monarch
head of government: Commissioner David Ross MACLENNAN (since NA
1994); Administrator Don CAIRNS (since NA); note - both reside in
the UK
Diplomatic representation in US: none (dependent territory of the
UK)
US diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Flag: white with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and six blue wavy horizontal stripes bearing a palm tree and yellow crown centered on the outer half of the flag
Economy———
Economic overview: All economic activity is concentrated on the largest island of Diego Garcia, where joint UK-US defense facilities are located. Construction projects and various services needed to support the military installations are done by military and contract employees from the UK, Mauritius, the Philippines, and the US. There are no industrial or agricultural activities on the islands.
Electricity: provided by the US military
Transportation———————
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: NA km
paved: short stretch of paved road of NA km between port and
airfield on Diego Garcia
unpaved: NA km
Ports: Diego Garcia
Airports: total: 1 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1 (1995 est.)
Communications———————
Telephones: NA
Telephone system: facilities for military needs only
domestic: NA
international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1
Televisions: NA
Defense———
Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
======================================================================
@British Virgin Islands———————————
(dependent territory of the UK)
Map—
Location: 18 30 N, 64 30 W—Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea
and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Flag——
Description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Virgin Islander coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts a woman flanked on either side by a vertical column of six oil lamps above a scroll bearing the Latin word VIGILATE (Be Watchful)
Geography————
Location: Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North
Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates: 18 30 N, 64 30 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total area: 150 sq km
land area: 150 sq km
comparative area: about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
note: includes the island of Anegada
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 80 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds
Terrain: coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep,
hilly
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Sage 521 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use:
arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 7%
meadows and pastures: 33%
forest and woodland: 7%
other: 33%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: limited natural fresh water resources (except for a
few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola, most of the island's
water supply comes from wells and rainwater catchment)
natural hazards: hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October)
international agreements: NA
Geographic note: strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and
Puerto Rico
People———
Population: