Bassas da India

Bassas da India (Template:IPA; Template:Langx) is an uninhabited, roughly circular atoll located in the southern Mozambique Channel, about halfway between Mozambique and Madagascar (about Template:Convert further east) and around Template:Convert northwest of Europa Island. It is administered by France as part of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands, though it is claimed by Madagascar. The rim of the atoll averages around Template:Convert in width and encloses a shallow lagoon of depth no greater than Template:Convert. Overall, the atoll is about Template:Convert in diameter, rising steeply from the seabed Template:Convert below to encircle an area (including lagoon) of Template:Convert. Its exclusive economic zone, Template:Convert in size, is contiguous with that of Europa Island.<ref>Template:Cite act</ref>

The atoll consists of ten barren rocky islets, with no vegetation, totaling Template:Convert in area. Those on the north and east sides are Template:Convert high, while those on the west and south sides are Template:Convert high. The reef, whose coastline measures Template:Convert, is entirely covered by the sea from three hours before high tide to three hours afterward. The region is also subject to cyclones, making the atoll a long-time maritime hazard and the site of numerous shipwrecks.

Jaguar Seamount and Hall Tablemount lie about Template:Convert further southwest.

History

The Bassas da India was first recorded by Portuguese explorers in the early sixteenth century as the "Baixo da Judia" ("Jewess Shoals"). The Judia ("Jewess", for the ancestry of its owner Fernão de Loronha<ref>Template:Cite encyclopedia</ref>) was the Portuguese ship that discovered the feature by running aground on it in 1506.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> The name became "Bassas da India" due to transcription errors by cartographers. The Santiago broke up on the shoal in 1585.

It was rediscovered by the Europa in 1774, whence the name "Europa Rocks".<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The Malay was lost 27 July 1842 on the Europa Rocks.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

In 1897, the shoal became a French possession, later being placed under the administration of a commissioner residing in Réunion in 1968. Madagascar became independent in 1960 and has claimed sovereignty over the shoal since 1972.

Wildlife

The presence of Galapagos sharks was reported in 2003, which is a first in the Mozambique Channel.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Tourism

Mooring at Bassas da India requires a permit from the French Government.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Fishing without such a permit may result in the boat being expelled or even confiscated.<ref>Template:Cite act</ref> Several illegal tourism charters departing from Mozambique or South Africa have been seized since 2013 by the French Navy.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>