British Indian Ocean Territory Geography
British Indian Ocean Territory Geography: A summary of information about British Indian Ocean Territory Geography, from government research data as well as independent research and other sources.
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British Indian Ocean Territory: Geography
Location
Southern Asia, archipelago in the Indian Ocean, about one-half the way from Africa to Indonesia
Geographic coordinates
6 00 S, 71 30 E
Map references
World
Area
total: 60 sq km land: 60 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes the entire Chagos Archipelago
Area - comparative
about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries
0 km
Coastline
698 km
Maritime claims
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate
tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds
Terrain
flat and low (most areas do not exceed four meters in elevation)
Elevation extremes
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% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: NA% other: NA%
Irrigated land
0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards
NA
Environment - current issues
NA
Geography - 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
