Tromelin Island, Remote administrative island in Indian Ocean, France
Tromelin Island is a coral atoll in the Indian Ocean belonging to France's scattered possessions, measuring roughly 1700 meters long and 700 meters wide. The flat terrain rises no more than seven meters above sea level and consists of raised coral sand with no natural freshwater sources.
French navigator Jean Marie Briand de la Feuillée came across the atoll in 1722 during a voyage to India. France formally claimed the territory on November 29, 1776, and maintains that claim today.
Archaeological work in 2006 brought to light everyday objects and structures showing how shipwrecked Malagasy people survived on the atoll for fifteen years. The finds tell the story of their resourcefulness and daily routines in extreme isolation.
Access requires special permission from French authorities as this is a controlled administrative area. There are no permanent facilities or visitor infrastructure, and stays are only possible for research or maintenance purposes.
Following rat eradication in 2005, the atoll became an important breeding ground for masked boobies and red-footed boobies. Both seabird species now use the uninhabited surface to raise their young without threats from introduced predators.
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