Glorioso Islands, French archipelago in Indian Ocean, north of Madagascar
The Glorioso Islands are a French archipelago in the Indian Ocean north of Madagascar. They comprise Grande Glorieuse, Île du Lys, and several smaller rocky outcrops that together form a coral reef system.
France took control of the Glorioso Islands in 1892 and integrated them into the colony of Mayotte. Military presence has shaped the islands ever since.
The islands maintain a French military meteorological station where fifteen soldiers monitor weather patterns and conduct environmental research in the Indian Ocean.
Visiting the Glorioso Islands is not possible, as the area remains under French military control and is closed to tourists. The islands serve exclusively military and scientific purposes.
A marine protected area was established around the islands in 2012, covering a vast stretch of the Indian Ocean. This zone helps preserve the coral reefs and fish populations in the region.
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