JUAN DE NOVA ISLAND (French possession) GEOGRAPHY Total area: 4.4 km2; land area: 4.4 km2 Comparative area: about 7.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC Land boundaries: none Coastline: 24.1 km Maritime claims: Contiguous zone: 12 nm; Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation; Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm; Territorial sea: 12 nm Disputes: claimed by Madagascar Climate: tropical Terrain: undetermined Natural resources: guano deposits and other fertilizers Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest and woodland 90%; other 10% Environment: subject to periodic cyclones; wildlife sanctuary Note: located in the central Mozambique Channel about halfway between Africa and Madagascar PEOPLE Population: uninhabited GOVERNMENT Long-form name: none Type: French possession administered by Commissioner of the Republic Daniel CONSTANTIN, resident in Reunion ECONOMY Overview: no economic activity COMMUNICATIONS Railroads: short line going to a jetty Airports: 1 with nonpermanent-surface runway 1,220-2,439 m Ports: none; offshore anchorage only DEFENSE FORCES Note: defense is the responsibility of France