| Location: |
archipelago in the Indian Ocean, south of India, about one-half the way from Africa to Indonesia |
| Geographic coordinates: |
6 00 S, 71 30 E; note - Diego Garcia 7 20 S, 72 25 E |
| Map references: |
Political Map of the World |
| Area: |
total: 54,400 sq km
land: 60 sq km; Diego Garcia 44 sq km
water: 54,340 sq km
note: includes the entire Chagos Archipelago of 55 islands |
| Area - comparative: |
land area is about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC |
| Land boundaries: |
0 km |
| Coastline: |
698 km |
| Maritime claims: |
territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm |
| Climate: |
tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds |
| Terrain: |
flat and low (most areas do not exceed two meters in elevation) |
| Elevation extremes: |
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Diego Garcia 15 m |
| Natural resources: |
coconuts, fish, sugarcane |
| Land use: |
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005) |
| Irrigated land: |
0 sq km |
| Natural hazards: |
NA |
| Environment - current issues: |
NA |
| Geography - note: |
archipelago of 55 islands; Diego Garcia, largest and southernmost island, occupies strategic location in central Indian Ocean; island is site of joint US-UK military facility |
