Introduction
British territory V Indian Ocean(English) British Indian Ocean Territory) is a British overseas territory located in the Indian Ocean south of the Maldives.
The British Indian Ocean Territory consists of the Chagos Archipelago, which includes 55 islands. The largest is the island of Diego Garcia (44 km²). total area territory - 60 km².
1. History
Once the phrase in Sanskrit "Lakshadweep" ("Thousand hundred islands") denoted the islands of Lakshadweep, the Maldives, Suvadive and the Chagos archipelago. Initially they were ruled from India, but they did not have a permanent population.
Maldivian sailors knew the Chagos archipelago well. According to oral tradition, they sometimes washed up on these islands, but the archipelago was considered too remote to inhabit.
The Chagos archipelago was first mapped by Vasco da Gama, who sailed by in the 16th century.
In the 18th century, France declared Chagos its possession, as part of the colony of Mauritius. Since 1815, under the Paris Peace Treaty, Chagos (as part of Mauritius) passed into the possession of Great Britain.
In the 19th century, plantations of coconut palms for the production of copra began to be cultivated on the island of Diego Garcia; for this, workers were brought from India (before that, there were no inhabitants on the archipelago).
On November 8, 1965, Great Britain separated the Chagos Archipelago from the island of Mauritius, and established the British Overseas Territory in the Indian Ocean on it in order to establish a military base on Diego Garcia. Because of the construction of a military base in 1967, the Chagossians (about 1,200 people) were resettled by the British authorities in Mauritius and the Seychelles.
2. Population
Now the population of the territory is the military and civilian personnel (about 4 thousand people) of the British-American military base located on the island of Diego Garcia. Among the civilian personnel, in addition to the British and Americans, are Mauritians and Filipinos.
3. Management
The Territory is administered by a British Foreign Office Commissioner based in London. On the spot, he is represented by the officer in command of the British forces on Diego Garcia.
4. Economy
No industrial or agricultural activity is carried out (other than maintenance of the base), but in London there is a sale of fishing licenses in the 200-mile zone and the commercial issue of postage stamps.
5. International disputes
In the 1980s, the island of Mauritius claimed ownership of these territories, claiming that the 1965 secession was illegal. The fact is that Article 6 of the UN Declaration No. 1514 “On the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples” unambiguously defines the territorial integrity of the colonies, and since this declaration was adopted 5 years before the separation of the archipelago, Mauritius theoretically has grounds for making claims on its territory. Great Britain did not recognize the rights of Mauritius, but agreed to transfer the Chagos Archipelago to him when there was no longer a military need for it.
The Seychelles also lay claim to the Chagos Archipelago, including the island of Diego Garcia.
Bibliography:
British Indian Ocean Territory (British Overseas Territory), Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
UN Declaration No. 1514
Source: http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Territory_in_Indian_Ocean
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Google MapsPhotos of the British Indian Ocean Territory
Landmarks of the British Indian Ocean Territory
Here are all the conditions for beach holiday– magnificent sandy beaches with fine sand and palm trees, creating a pleasant coolness. If such a " lazy» you don’t like your vacation, you can always diversify it and do various types water sports: diving, kayaking, yachting, windsurfing and fishing. At the same time, everywhere you will enjoy charming landscapes, feeling like in a fairy tale!
Nature richly endowed these islands beautiful places, which are today protected areas, which are usually traveled on foot or by bicycle. The island of Diego Garcia can be compared with a green carpet - it is so lushly covered with tropical vegetation. Walking around the islands, you will see many marine animals and exotic birds. Elephant turtles are found here, and the largest population of coconut crabs lives.
Fishing enthusiasts can get a lot of pleasure from their favorite pastime on the islands. To do this, they only need to purchase a special license to fish in a dedicated area. The bite will be wonderful, because the coastal waters in these parts are unusually rich in fish. On the islands, the temperature is rarely below 30°C, so you can visit here almost at any time of the year. The most important thing is not to go here during the season of powerful tropical cyclones.
The British Indian Ocean Territory is a British overseas territory located in the Indian Ocean south of the Maldives.
The British Indian Ocean Territory consists of the Chagos Archipelago, which includes 55 islands. The largest is the island of Diego Garcia (44 km²). The total area of the territory is 60 km².
International disputes
In the 19th century, plantations of coconut palms for the production of copra began to be cultivated on the island of Diego Garcia; for this, workers were brought from India (before that, there were no inhabitants on the archipelago).
On November 8, 1965, Britain separated the Chagos Archipelago from the island of Mauritius, and established the British Overseas Territory in the Indian Ocean on it in order to establish a military base on Diego Garcia. Because of the construction of a military base in 1967, the Chagossians (about 1,200 people) were resettled by the British authorities in Mauritius and the Seychelles.
Control
The Territory is administered by a British Foreign Office Commissioner based in London. On the spot, he is represented by the officer in command of the British forces on Diego Garcia.
Population
Now the population of the territory is the military and civilian personnel (about 4 thousand people) of the British-American military base located on the island of Diego Garcia. Among the civilian personnel, in addition to the British and Americans, are Mauritians and Filipinos.
Country Details: British Indian Ocean Territories. Photos, maps, population, cities, economy, climate, statistics compiled by the US CIA / World factbook
| Introduction | |
| The name of the country: | British territories in the Indian Ocean
|
| Story: | The Indian Ocean Territory was established as a British Overseas Territory in 1965. Britain separated the Chagos Archipelago from Mauritius to establish a military base at Diego Garcia. Because of the construction of a military base in 1967, the Chagossians (about 1,200 people) were resettled by the British authorities in Mauritius and the Seychelles. Since then, despite initially winning a case in their favor in the UK Supreme Court in 2006, the Chagossians have tried unsuccessfully to return to their island. |
| Geography | British territories in the Indian Ocean |
| Location: | an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, south of India, about halfway between Africa and Indonesia |
| Geographical coordinates: | 6°00'S, 71°30'E;
|
| Map link: | A political map of the WorldShow map: British Indian Ocean Territories: |
| Country area: | total area: 54,400 sq. km 177th place / Compare with other countries: / Dynamics of change: |
| Area in comparison: | approximately 0.3 times the size of Washington DC |
| Border length: | 0 km |
| Coast length: | 698 km |
| Maritime claims: | territorial sea: 3 nautical miles
|
| Climate | British territories in the Indian Ocean |
| Climate: | tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds |
| Landscape: | flat and low (most areas do not exceed two meters above sea level) |
| Height above sea level: | lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
|
| Natural resources: | coconut palm, fish, sugar cane |
| Land funds: | arable land: 0%
|
| Irrigated lands: | 0 sq. km |
| Natural disasters: | no data |
| Environment: | no data |
| Geography - note: | Diego Garcia - the largest and southernmost island, occupies a strategic location in the central Indian Ocean |
| Population | British territories in the Indian Ocean |
| Population: | no local population 254th place / Compare with other countries: / Dynamics of change: |
| Addiction: | British Overseas Territory administered by a British Foreign Office Commissioner based in London |
| Control | British territories in the Indian Ocean |
| The name of the country: | conventional long form: British Indian Ocean Territory
|
| Legal system: | UK laws, where applicable, apply |
| Executive Power: | chief of state: Queen Elizabeth II (since 6 February 1952)
|
| Diplomatic missions in the USA: | |
| Diplomatic missions from the USA: | none (overseas territory of Great Britain) |
| Flag Description: | white with six blue wavy horizontal stripes; the flag of Great Britain is in the upper sector of the side of the rise; the striped section has a palm tree and a yellow crown centered on the outer half of the flag |
| Economy | British territories in the Indian Ocean |
| Economics - overview: | All economic activity is concentrated on the largest island of Diego Garcia, where the British-American military base is located. No industrial or agricultural activity is carried out (other than maintenance of the base), but in London there is a sale of fishing licenses in the 200-mile zone and the commercial issue of postage stamps. |
| Electricity - production: | no data; note: electricity is supplied by the US military225th place / Compare with other countries: / Dynamics of change: |
| Electricity - consumption: | no data223rd place / Compare with other countries: / Dynamics of change: |
| Communication / Internet | British territories in the Indian Ocean |
| Phones - wired: | no data239th place / Compare with other countries: / Dynamics of change: |
| Phone system: | general assessment: separate services are available for military and public needs;
|
| Radio stations: | AM 1, FM 2, short wave 0 (1998) |
| TV stations: | 1 (1997) |
| Internet code: | .io |
| Internet hosts: | 89 (2008)190th place / Compare with other countries: / Dynamics of change: |
| Transport | British territories in the Indian Ocean |
| Airports: | 1 (2007)224th place / Compare with other countries: / Dynamics of change: |
| Airports - paved runways: | total: 1
|
| Car roads: | note: short section of paved road between port and airfield on Diego Garcia224th place / Compare with other countries: / Dynamics of change: |
| Ports: | Diego Garcia |
| Defense | British territories in the Indian Ocean |
| Military industry - addition: | defense is the responsibility of Great Britain; US lease on Diego Garcia expires in 2016 |
| Miscellaneous | British territories in the Indian Ocean |
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Location, area, flags, rivers, mountains, seas, capital, cities, population, area, currency
It is located a little south of the Republic of Maldives and consists of an archipelago Chagos, which includes more than 60 islands of different shapes and sizes. It is located between Africa and Indonesia, representing one of the most remote land areas located among the expanses of the Indian Ocean.
Peculiarities
Today, this British territory is an exclusively military facility, where the civilian personnel of the British and American military bases live. Among these personnel are also Mauritians and Filipinos working on a contract basis and maintenance bases. There are no industrial and manufacturing plants or factories here. Historically, several states claimed these lands at once, but now the territory is subject to the commissioner of the British Foreign Office, whose actual representative is the commander of the British armed forces located on largest island archipelago - Diego Garcia.
Of course, the British Indian Ocean Territory does not have the public amenities of civilization, but there are several radio stations, a television channel and satellite communications that allow military personnel to contact their families at home by telephone and other means of communication. The main source of income in the region is the sale of licenses for fishing in the waters surrounding the British territory. These licenses are sold in London and are in great demand among fishing enthusiasts.
general information
The area of the British Isles is only 60 sq. km. The population that does not live here on a permanent basis is about 3,500 people. The main language on the islands is English. The national currency is the US dollar and British pounds. Time zone UTC+6. Time ahead of Moscow by 3 hours. Telephone code countries +246.
A brief excursion into history
For the first time, for the rest of the world, these shores were discovered by the famous Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama, and in the 18th century they were officially declared by the French as part of the colony of Mauritius. However, already in 1814, the territory was transferred to Great Britain, after which, up to the present day, Mauritius constantly claims its rights to island lands. Until the 60s of the last century, local residents called themselves Chagossians lived here. They were engaged in agriculture and fishing, but before the placement of the US-British military base, all the islanders were evicted with minimal benefits. The British leased the island of Diego Garcia to the United States, which ends in a few years. During the last time military base was used for its intended purpose during the Gulf War in the early 90s, the Afghan war of 2001 and the war in Iraq in 2003. Many indigenous people who were forced to leave the archipelago several decades ago have long complained to the British government about the ban on return and have even been heard. Now the indigenous islanders have the opportunity to visit their homeland, of course, as yet without the right to reside.
Climate
The region has a maritime tropical climate. Winds blow here throughout the year, and average temperature air from January to December fluctuates around +26 - +28 degrees. There is quite a lot of precipitation, but most of it falls on the period from November to February. Natural disasters are not uncommon in the form of storms and strong winds blowing over the unprotected island shores of the archipelago.
Geography . The Chagos archipelago, together with the many reefs and small landmasses surrounding it, forms the face of the British Indian Ocean Territory. It consists of 7 atolls, where Diego Garcia acts as the central one, which in turn is formed from 4 islands and covers an area of not much more than 27 square meters. km. Since 1973, an American military base has been located there. The military forces of Great Britain make up only a small garrison. The remaining 6 atolls, including Egmont, Peros Baños, Salomon, Big Chagos Bank, Blenheim Reef and Speakers Bank, are uninhabited and are part of the tropical natural oasis of this archipelago.
Visa and customs regulations
Entering the British Indian Ocean Territory is possible only by special invitation from the British government or by being a native Chagossian with documentary evidence confirming the fact of the place of birth.
How to get there
On the island of Diego Garcia, which is part of the Chagos Archipelago, there is a military airport, consisting of a single strip 3 km long. It accepts heavy bombers and other air Transport, pertaining to US and UK air aviation. Also, you can get to the islands through the water expanses of the Indian Ocean.
Transport
In fact, the aircraft two-lane freeway is the only internal road in the archipelago. Otherwise, there are no roads suitable for driving within the land, and the bicycle acts as the only type of "public" transport.
