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- @node Header (British Indian Ocean Territory)
- @section Header (British Indian Ocean Territory)
-
- @display
-
- Affiliation:
- (dependent territory of the UK)
-
-
-
- @end display
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- @node Geography (British Indian Ocean Territory)
- @section Geography (British Indian Ocean Territory)
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- @display
-
- Location:
- in the Indian Ocean, south of India about halfway between Africa and
- Indonesia
- Map references:
- Standard Time Zones of the World
- Area:
- total area:
- 60 km2
- land area:
- 60 km2
- comparative area:
- about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
- note:
- includes the island of Diego Garcia
- Land boundaries:
- 0 km
- Coastline: 698 km
- Maritime claims:
- 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 km2
- Environment:
- archipelago of 2,300 islands
- Note:
- Diego Garcia, largest and southernmost island, occupies strategic location
- in central Indian Ocean; island is site of joint US-UK military facility
-
-
-
- @end display
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- @node People (British Indian Ocean Territory)
- @section People (British Indian Ocean Territory)
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- @display
-
- 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
-
-
-
- @end display
-
- @node Government (British Indian Ocean Territory)
- @section Government (British Indian Ocean Territory)
-
- @display
-
- 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)
- Leaders:
- Chief of State:
- Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
- Head of Government:
- Commissioner Mr. T. G. HARRIS (since NA); Administrator Mr. R. G. WELLS
- (since NA 1991); note - both reside in the UK
- Diplomatic representation in US:
- none (dependent territory of 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
-
-
-
- @end display
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- @node Economy (British Indian Ocean Territory)
- @section Economy (British Indian Ocean Territory)
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- @display
-
- 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
-
-
-
- @end display
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- @node Communications (British Indian Ocean Territory)
- @section Communications (British Indian Ocean Territory)
-
- @display
-
- Highways:
- short stretch of paved road between port and airfield on Diego Garcia
- Ports:
- Diego Garcia
- Airports:
- total:
- 1
- usable:
- 1
- with permanent-surface runways:
- 1
- with runways over 3,659 m:
- 1 on Diego Garcia
- with runways 2,439-3,659 m:
- 0
- with runways 1,229-2,439 m:
- 0
- Telecommunications:
- minimal facilities; broadcast stations (operated by US Navy) - 1 AM, 1 FM, 1
- TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
-
-
-
- @end display
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- @node Defense Forces (British Indian Ocean Territory)
- @section Defense Forces (British Indian Ocean Territory)
-
- @display
-
- Note:
- defense is the responsibility of the UK
-
-
-
- @end display
-