Bassas da India

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Image:Iles eparses de l'ocean Indien.png Image:Bassas da india 76.jpg

Bassas da India (also called Basse de Judie) is an uninhabited, roughly circular atoll about 10 km in diameter, which corresponds to a total size (including lagoon) of 80 km². It is located at 21°27′S 39°45′E, in the southern Mozambique Channel, about half-way between Madagascar (which is 385 km to the east) and Mozambique, and 110 km northwest of Europa Island. It rises steeply from the seabed 3000 m below. The reef rim averages around 100 m across and completely encloses a shallow lagoon that has a maximum depth of 15 m. Its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 123,700 km² is contiguous with that of Europa Island.

The atoll consists of ten barren rocky islets, with no vegetation, totalling 0.2 km² in area. Those on the north and east sides are 2.1 to 3 m high, and those on the west and south sides 1.2 m. The reef is completely covered by the sea from 3 hours before to 3 hours after high tide. The coastline of the reef measures 35.2 km. The region is subject to cyclones. The atoll has long been a maritime hazard and is the site of numerous shipwrecks.

Bassas da India was first recorded by Portuguese explorers in the early 16th century. In 1897 it became a French possession, later being placed under the administration of a commissioner residing in Réunion in 1968.

[edit] External links

Image:Wikimedia-logo.svgWikimedia Atlas of Bassas da India Image:Gnome-globe.svg.

Scattered islands in the Indian Ocean

Bassas da India · Europa Island · Glorioso Islands · Juan de Nova Island · Tromelin Island

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French overseas departments and territories

Overseas departments¹
Guadeloupe² • French Guiana • Martinique • Réunion

Overseas communities | Special status
Mayotte³ • French Polynesia⁴ • Saint-Pierre and Miquelon⁵ • Wallis and Futuna⁶ | New Caledonia

Uninhabited lands
French Southern and Antarctic Lands (Amsterdam Island • Saint-Paul Island • Crozet Islands • Kerguelen Islands • Adélie Land • Scattered islands in the Indian Ocean) •
Clipperton (French Polynesia)

¹ These overseas departments are also overseas regions (régions d'outre-mer). ² Guadeloupe currently includes Saint-Barthélemy and Saint-Martin which in 2003 voted to become separate overseas communities (collectivités d'outre-mer) ; the change will be implemented in early 2007. ³ "Departmental community" (collectivité départementale). ⁴ "Overseas country" (Pays d'outre-mer). ⁵ "Territorial community" (collectivité territoriale). ⁶ Territory (territoire).

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Outlying territories of European countries

Territories under European sovereignty but closer to continents other than Europe (see inclusion criteria for further information)
Denmark	Greenland
France	Clipperton Island • French Guiana • French Polynesia • French Southern and Antarctic Lands • Guadeloupe • Martinique • Mayotte • New Caledonia • Réunion • Saint-Pierre and Miquelon • Scattered islands in the Indian Ocean • Wallis and Futuna
Italy	Pantelleria • Pelagie Islands
Netherlands	Aruba • Netherlands Antilles
Norway	Bouvet Island
Portugal	Azores • Madeira
Spain	Ceuta • Melilla • Plazas de soberanía • Canary Islands
United Kingdom	Anguilla • Bermuda • British Virgin Islands • Cayman Islands • Falkland Islands • Montserrat • Saint Helena • Tristan da Cunha • Turks and Caicos Islands • British Indian Ocean Territory • Pitcairn Islands • South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands