Juan de Nova Island, Disputed island in Mozambique Channel, Indian Ocean
This 4.8 square kilometer island contains a 61,050 square kilometer lagoon system between Madagascar and Mozambique at coordinates 17°3'16"S, 42°43'30"E.
The Portuguese navigator João da Nova discovered this territory in 1501, leading to its subsequent acquisition by France in 1897 for guano extraction operations.
The island maintains a French military garrison of approximately 15 personnel who receive supplies through aerial deliveries every 45 days.
Access to the island requires authorization from French authorities, with transportation limited to military vessels and aircraft using the 1,000-meter airstrip.
The surrounding waters contain multiple shipwrecks, including the SS Tottenham from 1911, due to the challenging navigation through coral reef formations.
Location: Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean
Elevation above the sea: 10 m
GPS coordinates: -17.05444,42.72500
Latest update: June 20, 2025 20:20
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