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