ay over islands
in the Rio Quarai (Rio Cuareim) and the Arroio Invernada (Arroyo de
la Invernada)

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis; minor coca cultivation
in the Amazon region, used for domestic consumption; government
has a large-scale eradication program to control cannabis; important
transshipment country for Colombian and Peruvian cocaine headed for the
US and Europe; also used by traffickers as a way station for narcotics
air transshipments between Peru and Colombia; upsurge in drug-related
violence and weapons smuggling; important market for Colombian, Bolivian,
and Peruvian cocaine

This page was last updated on 1 January 2002

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Bassas da India

Introduction

Bassas da India

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.

Geography Bassas da India

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

People Bassas da India

Population: uninhabited (July 2002 est.)

Population growth rate: NA

Government Bassas da India

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, appl