Juan de Nova Island
Encyclopedia
Juan de Nova Island is a 4.4 square kilometres (1.7 sq mi) low, flat, tropical island
in the narrowest part of the Mozambique Channel
, about one-third of the way between Madagascar
and Mozambique
at 17°03′16"S 42°43′30"E. Anchorage is possible off the northeast of the island which also has a 1300 metres (4,265.1 ft) airstrip.
Administratively, the island is one of the Scattered islands in the Indian Ocean
, a district
of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands.
Juan de Nova, about six kilometres long and 1.6 kilometre (0.994196378639691 mi) at its widest, is a nature reserve
surrounded by reefs which enclose an area (not a true lagoon
like in an atoll
) of roughly 40 square kilometres (15.4 sq mi). Forests, mainly of Casuarinaceae
, cover about half the island. Large numbers of tern
s (Sterna fuscata) breed there from November to March. Turtles nest in the beaches around the island.
The island is named after João da Nova
, a Galician
admiral in the service of Portugal
who came across the island in 1501. It has been a French
possession since 1897. Guano
(phosphate
) deposits were exploited from the start of the 20th century until 1970. The island was abandoned during World War II
and was visited by German
submariners. Installations, including a hangar, rail lines, houses and a jetty are in ruins.
Juan de Nova, with an Exclusive Economic Zone
(EEZ) of 61050 square kilometres (23,571.5 sq mi), is claimed by Madagascar
. The island is garrisoned by French troops from Réunion
and has a meteorological station (Saint-Christophe ).
Juan de Nova, in the sea route between South Africa
and the northern tip of Madagascar, is affected by strong currents, and has become the site of numerous wrecks. Most visible are the remains of the SS Tottenham
which ran onto the southern fringing reef in 1911.
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
in the narrowest part of the Mozambique Channel
Mozambique Channel
The Mozambique Channel is a portion of the Indian Ocean located between the island nation of Madagascar and southeast Africa, primarily the country of Mozambique. It was a World War II clashpoint during the Battle of Madagascar...
, about one-third of the way between Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
and Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
at 17°03′16"S 42°43′30"E. Anchorage is possible off the northeast of the island which also has a 1300 metres (4,265.1 ft) airstrip.
Administratively, the island is one of the Scattered islands in the Indian Ocean
Scattered islands in the Indian Ocean
The Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean consist of four small coral islands, an atoll, and a reef in the Indian Ocean, and have constituted the 5th district of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands since February 2007. They have no permanent population...
, a district
District
Districts are a type of administrative division, in some countries managed by a local government. They vary greatly in size, spanning entire regions or counties, several municipalities, or subdivisions of municipalities.-Austria:...
of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands.
Juan de Nova, about six kilometres long and 1.6 kilometre (0.994196378639691 mi) at its widest, is a nature reserve
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
surrounded by reefs which enclose an area (not a true lagoon
Lagoon
A lagoon is a body of shallow sea water or brackish water separated from the sea by some form of barrier. The EU's habitat directive defines lagoons as "expanses of shallow coastal salt water, of varying salinity or water volume, wholly or partially separated from the sea by sand banks or shingle,...
like in an atoll
Atoll
An atoll is a coral island that encircles a lagoon partially or completely.- Usage :The word atoll comes from the Dhivehi word atholhu OED...
) of roughly 40 square kilometres (15.4 sq mi). Forests, mainly of Casuarinaceae
Casuarinaceae
Casuarinaceae is a family of dicotyledonous flowering plants placed in the order Fagales, consisting of 3 or 4 genera and approximately 70 species of trees and shrubs native to the Old World tropics , Australia, and the Pacific Islands...
, cover about half the island. Large numbers of tern
Tern
Terns are seabirds in the family Sternidae, previously considered a subfamily of the gull family Laridae . They form a lineage with the gulls and skimmers which in turn is related to skuas and auks...
s (Sterna fuscata) breed there from November to March. Turtles nest in the beaches around the island.
The island is named after João da Nova
João da Nova
João da Nova , Xoán de Novoa or Joam de Nôvoa galician spellings, Juan de Nova, Spanish spelling, was a Galician explorer of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans at the service of Portugal...
, a Galician
Galician people
The Galicians are an ethnic group, a nationality whose historical homeland is Galicia in north-western Spain. Most Galicians are bilingual, speaking both their historic language, Galician, and Castilian Spanish.-Political and administrative divisions:...
admiral in the service of Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
who came across the island in 1501. It has been a French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
possession since 1897. Guano
Guano
Guano is the excrement of seabirds, cave dwelling bats, and seals. Guano manure is an effective fertilizer due to its high levels of phosphorus and nitrogen and also its lack of odor. It was an important source of nitrates for gunpowder...
(phosphate
Phosphate
A phosphate, an inorganic chemical, is a salt of phosphoric acid. In organic chemistry, a phosphate, or organophosphate, is an ester of phosphoric acid. Organic phosphates are important in biochemistry and biogeochemistry or ecology. Inorganic phosphates are mined to obtain phosphorus for use in...
) deposits were exploited from the start of the 20th century until 1970. The island was abandoned during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and was visited by German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
submariners. Installations, including a hangar, rail lines, houses and a jetty are in ruins.
Exclusive Economic Zone
Under the law of the sea, an exclusive economic zone is a seazone over which a state has special rights over the exploration and use of marine resources, including production of energy from water and wind. It stretches from the seaward edge of the state's territorial sea out to 200 nautical...
(EEZ) of 61050 square kilometres (23,571.5 sq mi), is claimed by Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
. The island is garrisoned by French troops from Réunion
Réunion
Réunion is a French island with a population of about 800,000 located in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, about south west of Mauritius, the nearest island.Administratively, Réunion is one of the overseas departments of France...
and has a meteorological station (Saint-Christophe ).
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and the northern tip of Madagascar, is affected by strong currents, and has become the site of numerous wrecks. Most visible are the remains of the SS Tottenham
SS Tottenham
SS Tottenham was a British ship, which ran onto the southern fringing reef of Juan de Nova Island in 1911. Her wreck can still be found there....
which ran onto the southern fringing reef in 1911.