GLORIOSO ISLANDS (French possession) GEOGRAPHY Total area: 5 km2; land area: 5 km2; includes Ile Glorieuse, Ile du Lys, Verte Rocks, Wreck Rock, and South Rock Comparative area: about 8.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC Land boundaries: none Coastline: 35.2 km Maritime claims: Contiguous zone: 12 nm; Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm; Territorial sea: 12 nm Disputes: claimed by Madagascar Climate: tropical Terrain: undetermined Natural resources: guano, coconuts Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest and woodland 0%; other--lush vegetation and coconut palms 100% Environment: subject to periodic cyclones Note: located in the Indian Ocean just north of the Mozambique Channel between Africa and Madagascar PEOPLE Population: uninhabited GOVERNMENT Long-form name: none Type: French possession administered by Commissioner of the Republic Daniel CONSTANTIN, resident in Reunion ECONOMY Overview: no economic activity COMMUNICATIONS Airports: 1 with runway 1,220-2,439 m Ports: none; offshore anchorage only DEFENSE FORCES Note: defense is the responsibility of France