Juan de Nova Island

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Juan de Nova Island (French: locally Île Juan de Nova or officially Île Juan da Nova) is a 4.4 km² low, flat, tropical island in the narrowest part of the Mozambique Channel, about one-third of the way between Madagascar and Mozambique at [17°03′S 42°45′E]. Anchorage is possible off the northeast of the island which also has a 1,300-metre-long airstrip.

Map

Juan de Nova, about six kilometres long and 1.6km at its widest, is a nature reserve surrounded by reefs. Forests, mainly of Casuarinaceae, cover about half the island. Large numbers of terns (Sterna fuscata) breed there from November to March. Turtles nest in the beaches around the island.

The island is named after João da Nova, a Galician admiral in the service of Portugal who came across the island in 1501. It has been a French possession since 1897. Guano (phosphate) deposits were exploited from the start of the 20th century until 1970. The island was abandoned during World War II and was visited by German submariners. Installations, including a hangar, rail lines, houses and a jetty are in ruins.

Satellite image of Juan de Nova Island

Juan de Nova, with an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 61,050 km², is claimed by Madagascar. The island is garrisoned by French troops from Réunion and has a meteorological station.

Juan de Nova, in the sea route between South Africa and the northern tip of Madagascar, is affected by strong currents, and has become the site of numerous wrecks. Most visible are the remains of the SS Tottenham which ran onto the southern fringing reef in 1911.

Scattered islands in the Indian Ocean
Bassas da India | Europa Island | Glorioso Islands | Juan de Nova Island | Tromelin Island

Overseas French departments and territories
Département d'outre-mer>Departments : Guadeloupe¹ · French Guiana · Martinique · Réunion
These overseas departments are also overseas regions.
¹Guadeloupe currently includes Saint-Barthélemy and Saint Martin, who have voted to become separate collectivités d'outre-mer in 2003; the change will be implemented in early 2007.
Overseas community : Mayotte (collectivité départementale) · French Polynesia (pays d'outre-mer) · Saint-Pierre and Miquelon (collectivité territoriale) · Wallis and Futuna (territoire)
Each overseas community has its own status.
Special status : New Caledonia
Uninhabited lands : French Southern Territories (Amsterdam Island, Saint-Paul Island, Crozet Islands, Kerguelen Islands, Adélie Land) · Clipperton · Scattered islands in the Indian Ocean

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