Bassas Da India Island Hotels

Select a Bassas Da India city and Add Hotel: Alphabetical A-Z Listing of Cities-Destinations
B | E | R |

Popular Hotel Destinations in Bassas Da India

Bassas Da India Island Hotels

[ Submit a Hotel or any type of accommodation in Bassas Da India]

More Information About Bassas Da India:

Bassas da India

Coordinates: 21�29′S 39�41′E / -21.483, 39.683

Location of the Scattered islands in the Indian Ocean:
� 1 : Bassas da India
� 2 : Europa Island
� 3 : Glorioso Islands
� 4 : Juan de Nova Island
� 5 : Tromelin Island

(KM : Comoros, MG : Madagascar, MU : Mauritius, MZ : Mozambique, RE : R�union, YT : Mayotte)
MapBassas da India (also called Basse de Judie) is an uninhabited, roughly circular atoll about 10 km in diameter, which corresponds to a total size (including lagoon) of 80 km�. It is located in the southern Mozambique Channel, about half-way between Madagascar (which is 385 km to the east) and Mozambique, and 110 km northwest of Europa Island. It rises steeply from the seabed 3000 m below. The reef rim averages around 100 m across and completely encloses a shallow lagoon that has a maximum depth of 15 m. Its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 123,700 km� is contiguous with that of Europa Island.

The atoll consists of ten barren rocky islets, with no vegetation, totalling 0.2 km� in area. Those on the north and east sides are 2.1 to 3 m high, and those on the west and south sides 1.2 m. The reef is completely covered by the sea from 3 hours before to 3 hours after high tide. The coastline of the reef measures 35.2 km. The region is subject to cyclones. The atoll has long been a maritime hazard and is the site of numerous shipwrecks.

History
Bassas da India was first recorded by Portuguese explorers in the early 16th century. It was first named Baixo da Judia, "Shoal of Judia". "Judia" was the name of a Portuguese ship that ran aground on this reef. This ship was named "Judia" (Jewess in Portuguese), because its owner was a Jewish trader from Portugal.

Apparently this reef was renamed Bassas da India by subsequent cartographers owing to mistakes in their writing the word "Judia" by confusing letters while copying former maps (Capital "J" changed to "I" and "u" to "n").

In 1897 it became a French possession, later being placed under the administration of a commissioner residing in R�union in 1968.

Bassas da India

Browse by Continent

Advertise Bassas Da India Hotels

Advertise an Accommodation for FREE
Add Hotel Photos for FREE
Promote Hotel Rooms
Add the Hotel Reservations Telephone Number
Easy To Navigate
Reach a Global Online Audience

Bassas Da India(bs)

Country Code: BS

Bassas Da India Facts

Location: :

Southern Africa, islands in the southern Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from Madagascar to Mozambique

Geographic coordinates: :

21 30 S, 39 50 E

Map references: :

Africa

Area: :

*total:* 0.2 sq km *water:* 0 sq km *land:* 0.2 sq km

Area - comparative: :

about one-third the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries: :

0 km

Coastline: :

35.2 km

Maritime claims: :

*exclusive economic zone:* 200 NM *territorial sea:* 12 NM

Climate: :

tropical

Terrain: :

volcanic rock

Elevation extremes: :

*lowest point:* Indian Ocean 0 m *highest point:* unnamed location 2.4 m

Natural resources: :

none

Land use: :

*arable land:* 0% *permanent crops:* 0% *other:* 100% (all rock) (1998 est.)

Irrigated land: :

0 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards: :

maritime hazard since it is usually under water during high tide and surrounded by reefs; subject to periodic cyclones

Environment - current issues: :

Geography - note: :

the islands emerge from a circular reef that sits atop a long-extinct, submerged volcano