aims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm

International disputes: the entire Chagos Archipelago is claimed by
Mauritius

Climate: tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds

Terrain: flat and low (up to 4 meters in elevation)

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

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

@British Indian Ocean Territory:People

Population: no indigenous inhabitants
note: there are UK-US military personnel; civilian inhabitants, known
as the Ilois, evacuated to Mauritius before construction of UK-US
military facilities

@British Indian Ocean Territory:Government

Names:
conventional long form: British Indian Ocean Territory
conventional short form: none

Abbreviation: BIOT

Digraph: IO

Type: dependent territory of the UK

Capital: none

Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Commissioner Mr. D. R. MACLENNAN); Administrator
Mr. David Smith; 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

@British Indian Ocean Territory:Economy

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

@British Indian Ocean Territory:Transportation

Railroads: 0 km

Highways:
total: NA
paved: short stretch of paved road between port and airfield on Diego
Garcia
unpaved: