Location Southern Asia, archipelago in the Indian Ocean, about one-half the way from Africa to Indonesia

Geographic coordinates 6 00 S, 71 30 E

Map references World

Area
total: 60 sq km
land: 60 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes the entire Chagos Archipelago

Area - comparative about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries 0 km

Coastline 698 km

Maritime claims
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm

Climate tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds

Terrain flat and low (up to four meters in elevation)

Elevation extremes
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Diego Garcia 15 m

Natural resources coconuts, fish

Land use
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: NA%

Irrigated land 0 sq km (1993)

Natural hazards NA

Environment - current issues NA

Environment - international agreements
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA

Geography - note archipelago of 2,300 islands; Diego Garcia, largest and southernmost island, occupies strategic location in central Indian Ocean; island is site of joint US-UK military facility

NOTE: The information regarding British Indian Ocean Territory on this page is re-published from the 1998 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of British Indian Ocean Territory Geography 1998 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about British Indian Ocean Territory Geography 1998 should be addressed to the CIA.