British Indian Ocean Territory Geography 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 AreaÑcomparative: 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 EnvironmentÑcurrent issues: NA EnvironmentÑinternational agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA GeographyÑnote: 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 People Population: no indigenous inhabitants note: there are UK-US military personnel and civilian contractors; approximately 3,000 native inhabitants, known as the Chagosians or Ilois, were evacuated to Mauritius before construction of UK-US military facilities Government Country name: conventional long form: British Indian Ocean Territory conventional short form: none abbreviation: BIOT Data code: IO Dependency status: dependent territory of the UK; administered by a commissioner, resident in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London Legal system: NA Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952) head of government: Commissioner David Ross MACLENNAN (since NA 1994); Administrator Don CAIRNS (since NA); noteÑboth reside in the UK cabinet: NA elections: none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; commissioner and administrator appointed by the queen Diplomatic representation in the US: none (dependent territory of the UK) Diplomatic representation from the US: none (dependent territory of the UK) Flag description: white with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and six blue wavy horizontal stripes bearing a palm tree and yellow crown centered on the outer half of the flag Economy EconomyÑoverview: All economic activity is concentrated on the largest island of Diego Garcia, where joint UK-US defense facilities are located. Construction projects and various services needed to support the military installations are done by military and contract employees from the UK, Mauritius, the Philippines, and the US. There are no industrial or agricultural activities on the islands. ElectricityÑcapacity: NA kW note: electricity supplied by the US military ElectricityÑproduction: NA kWh note: electricity supplied by the US military ElectricityÑconsumption per capita: NA kWh Communications Telephones: NA Telephone system: facilities for military needs only domestic: NA international: NA Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 Radios: NA Television broadcast stations: 1 Televisions: NA Transportation Highways: total: NA km paved: short stretch of paved road of NA km between port and airfield on Diego Garcia unpaved: NA km Ports and harbors: Diego Garcia Airports: 1 (1997 est.) AirportsÑwith paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (1997 est.) Military MilitaryÑnote: defense is the responsibility of the UK; the US lease on Diego Garcia expires in 2016 Transnational Issues DisputesÑinternational: the island of Diego Garcia is claimed by Mauritius; the Chagos Archipelago is claimed by Seychelles