The Glorioso Islands are located in Southern Africa, and are a group of islands in the Indian Ocean northwest of Madagascar.  There is a total of five square kilometers of land on the Glorioso Islands and no surface water.  (The surface area inlucdes Ile Glorieuse, Ile du Lys, Verte Rocks, Wreck Rock, and South Rock).  The Glorioso Islands are about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington D.C.!  There is a total of 35.2 kilometers of coastline on the Glorioso Islands.

 

The climate of the Glorioso Islands is tropical. The terrain of the islands is low and flat.  The lowest point is zero meters and the Indian Ocean, and the highest point is an unnamed location at twelve meters high.  Natural resources of the islands include guano and coconuts.  All of the island (100%) is lush vegetation and coconut palms (a 1998 estimate).  The main natural hazard is periodic cyclones hitting the islets and islands.  A little geography note is that the islands of Glorioso are surrounded by an extensive reef system.

 

There are no indigenous inhabitants of the Glorioso Island, but there is a small French military garrison along with a few meteorologists which is visited by scientists frequently (a July 2003 est.).  The conventional short name of the Glorioso Islands is the Glorioso Island, and the local short form for the Glorioso Islands is Iles Glorieuses. The Glorioso Islands are a possession of France, and are administered by a high commissioner of the Republic residing in Reunion.

 

The laws of France, on the Glorioso Islands, where applicable, apply.  When a flag is flown on the Glorioso Islands, France's flag is used. 

 

There is no economic activity on the Glorioso Islands.  There is one meteorological station on the islands.  There is one airport on the island, which has an unpaved runway.  Defense of the Glorioso Islands is the responsibility of France.  The only real international dispute is that the Glorioso Islands are also claimed by Madagascar.