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| Location: |
Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar
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| Geographic coordinates: |
21 06 S, 55 36 E
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| Area: |
total:
2,512 sq km
land:
2,502 sq km
water:
10 sq km
|
| Area - comparative: |
slightly smaller than Rhode Island
|
| Maritime claims: |
exclusive economic zone:
200 NM
territorial sea:
12 NM
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| Climate: |
tropical, but temperature moderates with elevation; cool and dry from May to November, hot and rainy from November to April
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| 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
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| Natural resources: |
fish, arable land, hydropower
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| Land use: |
arable land:
17%
permanent crops:
2%
permanent pastures:
5%
forests and woodland:
35%
other:
41% (1993 est.)
|
| Irrigated land: |
60 sq km (1993 est.)
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| Natural hazards: |
periodic, devastating cyclones (December to April); Piton de la Fournaise on the southeastern coast is an active volcano
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| Environment - current issues: |
NA
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