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Background:

This atoll is a volcanic rock surrounded by reefs and is awash at high tide. A French possession since 1897, it was placed under the administration of a commissioner residing in Reunion in 1968.

Location:	Southern Africa, islands in the southern Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from Madagascar to Mozambique
Geographic coordinates:	21 30 S, 39 50 E
Map references:	Africa
Area:	total: 0.2 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 0.2 sq km
Area - comparative:	about one-third the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:	0 km
Coastline:	35.2 km
Maritime claims:	exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:	tropical
Terrain:	volcanic rock
Elevation extremes:	lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 2.4 m
Natural resources:	none
Land use:	arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (all rock) (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:	0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:	maritime hazard since it is usually under water during high tide and surrounded by reefs; subject to periodic cyclones
Environment - current issues:	NA
Geography - note:	the islands emerge from a circular reef that sits atop a long-extinct, submerged volcano

Population:

uninhabited (July 2003 est.)

Country name:	conventional long form: none conventional short form: Bassas da India
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
Flag description:	the flag of France is used

Economy - overview:

no economic activity

Waterways:	none
Ports and harbors:	none; offshore anchorage only