Geography of British Indian Ocean Territory

Location: archipelago in the Indian Ocean, south of India, about halfway between Africa and Indonesia.

Geographic coordinates: 6 00 S, 71 30 E; note - Diego Garcia 7 20 S, 72 25 E

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

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.