Bassas Da India
Bassas da India is a French Territoire d’outre more since 1897 and managed directly from France by the prefect of the French Southern Territories. They are part of the so-called Iles Eparses. Madagascar does have long claimed the area.
Geography
Islands are an uninhabited tropical öatoll in the western Indian Ocean between Africa and Madagascar in the southern Mozambique Channel. They have an area of approximately 0.2 square kilometers and the maximum height is only 2 meters with a 35.2 km long coastline. The archipelago is part of an atoll and is based on a circular reef on top of long-extinct volcano in the water and is completely covered by volcanic rock. The island lacks an anchorage as ships need to add off the coast, has a small airfield.
The archipelago has long been known as a danger to sailors because it lies below sea level at high tide and is surrounded by reefs. It is also subject to recurrent cyclones.
For visitors require a permit, even if no personnel are in place to monitor the islands. It is a popular destination for organized in South Africa.
History
The islands were discovered in the 1600s by Portuguese sailors. Incorporated February 28, 1897 in the French colony of Madagascar. Managed since 1960 by Reunion, and since 2005 by French Southern Territories.
Belarus & Barbados
