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Glorioso Islands

Coordinates: 11°33′S 47°20′E / 11.550°S 47.333°E / -11.550; 47.333
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Glorioso Islands
Îles Glorieuses (French)
Flag of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Motto: Liberté, égalité, fraternité
"Liberty, Equality, Brotherhood"
Anthem: "La Marseillaise"
Disputed island
The Glorioso Islands seen from the ISS, 2001. Grande Glorieuse (left) and Île du Lys (right)
Map of the Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean
Geography
LocationMozambique Channel
Coordinates11°33′S 47°20′E / 11.550°S 47.333°E / -11.550; 47.333
Administration
Overseas territoryFrench Southern and Antarctic Lands
DistrictScattered Islands in the Indian Ocean
Claimed by
 Comoros
 Madagascar

The Glorieuses or Glorioso Islands (French: Îles Glorieuses or officially also Archipel des Glorieuses) are a group of islands and rocks totaling 5 square kilometres (1.9 sq mi). They are controlled by France as part of the Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean in the French Southern and Antarctic Lands, a French overseas territory, but are also claimed by Comoros, Madagascar and formerly by Seychelles. They are geographically part of the Comoro Islands between the French overseas region of Mayotte and the nation of Madagascar.

Archipelago

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Map including the Îles Glorieuses (DMA, 1985)

The archipelago consists of two islands, Grande Glorieuse (11°34′46.54″S 47°17′54.14″E / 11.5795944°S 47.2983722°E / -11.5795944; 47.2983722 (Grande Glorieuse)) and Île du Lys, as two rock islands, Roches Vertes and Île aux Crabes, along with two sandbanks that emerge at low tide.[1][2] They form part of a coral reef and lagoon.[3] Grande Glorieuses is roughly circular in shape and measures about 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) in diameter. It is verdant, mostly by the coconut plantation remains and casuarina trees.[4]

Île du Lys, located at 11°30′59.35″S 47°22′36.02″E / 11.5164861°S 47.3766722°E / -11.5164861; 47.3766722 (Île du Lys) about 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) northeast of Grande Glorieuses, is about 600 metres (2,000 ft) long and consists of sand dunes and scrub with some mangroves. It was formerly quarried for phosphate (guano).

The Glorieuses have an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 48,350 square kilometres (18,670 sq mi). There are anchorages offshore, and Grande Glorieuse has a 1,300-metre (4,300 ft) long airstrip.

Climate

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The climate is tropical and the terrain is low and flat, varying in height from sea level to 12 metres (39 ft). Île de Lys in particular is a nesting ground for migratory seabirds, and turtles lay eggs on the beaches. In the ocean, migratory species such as humpback whales and whale sharks may appear.[5]

History

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While probably earlier known to Arab (perhaps especially Yemeni) navigators, the Glorieuses were named and settled in 1880 by a Frenchman, Hippolyte Caltaux, who established a coconut plantation on Grande Glorieuse. The archipelago became a French possession in 1892[6] when Captain Richard of the Primauget made a formal claim. In 1895, the Glorioso Island became a part of the colony of Mayotte and dependencies.

Historically flora on the islands mostly consisted of bois de rose, portia, banyan and other large native trees, many of which were felled following the establishment of the French settlement and plantation.[7]

From 1914 to 1958, concessions to exploit the islands were given to Seychelles companies. The islands are today nature reserves with a meteorological station garrisoned by the French Foreign Legion.[8] Despite the Glorioso Islands never having been a part of the Malagasy Protectorate but a part of the colony of Mayotte and dependencies, then a part of French Comoros, Madagascar has claimed sovereignty over the islands since 1972.[9] The Comoros claims Mayotte and Glorioso Islands.[10] The Seychelles claimed the islands too before the France–Seychelles Maritime Boundary Agreement in 2001.

In 2012, France founded Glorioso Islands Marine Natural Park, a marine protected area, to preserve the endangered flora and fauna of the islands.[11]

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  • Map
    Map
  • Island overview
    Island overview

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Les Glorieuses". www.taaf.fr. Archived from the original on 24 February 2011. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  2. ^ Mulochau; Conand (October 2008). "Holothurians and other echinoderms of the Glorieuses Islands (Scattered Islands of the Indian Ocean)". SPC Beche de Mer Information Bulletin (28): 34 – via Inventaire national du patrimoine naturel.
  3. ^ Battistini; Cremers (31 December 1972). "GEOMORPIIOLOGY AND VEGETATION OF ILES GLORIEUSES" (PDF). Atoll Research Bulletin (159). Washington, D.C.: 3 – via repository.si.edu.
  4. ^ Jorry, Stephan J.; Camoin, Gilbert F.; Jouet, Gwenaël; Le Roy, Pascal; Claude, Vella; Prat, Sophie; et al. (18 February 2016). "Modern sediments and Pleistocene reefs from isolated carbonate platforms (Iles Eparses, SW Indian Ocean): A preliminary study" (PDF). Acta Oecologica. 72: 131. doi:10.1016/j.actao.2015.10.014. ISSN 1146-609X – via Archive Institutionnelle de l'Ifremer.
  5. ^ Glorioso Islands (images). Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  6. ^ The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. 2008. p. 211. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  7. ^ Abbott, W. L. (1894). "Notes on the natural history of Aldabra, Assumption and Glorioso Islands, Indian Ocean". Proceedings of the United States National Museum. 16 (973). Smithsonian Libraries and Archives: 759–764. doi:10.5479/si.00963801.973.759. ISSN 0096-3801.
  8. ^ "Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte | French Foreign Legion Information". Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  9. ^ "Disputes - International". CIA World Factbook. Archived from the original on 20 October 2011. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
  10. ^ "Comoros hits back against France over visa suspension". Reuters. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  11. ^ "Le Parc naturel marin des Glorieuses" [The Glorieuses Marine Natural Park]. Agence des aires marines protégées (in French). Archived from the original on 9 September 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
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