Location: :
Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar
Geographic coordinates: :
21 06 S, 55 36 E
Area: :
*total:* 2,517 sq km
*water:* 10 sq km
*land:* 2,507 sq km
Area - comparative: :
slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Maritime claims: :
*exclusive economic zone:* 200 NM
*territorial sea:* 12 NM
Climate: :
tropical, but temperature moderates with elevation; cool and dry from May to
November, hot and rainy from November to April
Terrain: :
mostly rugged and mountainous; fertile lowlands along coast
Elevation extremes: :
*lowest point:* Indian Ocean 0 m
*highest point:* Piton des Neiges 3,069 m
Natural resources: :
fish, arable land, hydropower
Land use: :
*arable land:* 13.2%
*permanent crops:* 2%
*other:* 84.8% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: :
120 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: :
periodic, devastating cyclones (December to April); Piton de la Fournaise on
the southeastern coast is an active volcano
Environment - current issues: :
NA
Geography - note: :
this mountainous, volcanic island has an active volcano, Piton de la
Fournaise; there is a tropical cyclone center at Saint-Denis, which is the
monitoring station for the whole of the Indian Ocean
