My World Factbook
(Learn more about the new, improved World Factbook)
Note: Most information adapted from the popular World Factbook is distributed between the websites GeoWorld (geography, people, communications & transportation), Politix (government) and Great Depression II (economy).
Geography
Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar
20 17 S, 57 33 E
Area: 
total: 2,040 sq km
country comparison to the world: 
180
land: 2,030 sq km
water: 10 sq km
note: includes Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (Saint Brandon), and Rodrigues
almost 11 times the size of Washington, DC
0 km
177 km
measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Current Weather
tropical, modified by southeast trade winds; warm, dry winter (May to November); hot, wet, humid summer (November to May)
small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains encircling central plateau
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Piton 828 m
arable land, fish
arable land: 49.02%
permanent crops: 2.94%
other: 48.04% (2005)
220 sq km (2003)
2.2 cu km (2001)
total: 0.61 cu km/yr (25%/14%/60%)
per capita: 488 cu m/yr (2000)
cyclones (November to April); almost completely surrounded by reefs that may pose maritime hazards
water pollution, degradation of coral reefs
party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
the main island, from which the country derives its name, is of volcanic origin and is almost entirely surrounded by coral reefs; home of the dodo, a large flightless bird related to pigeons, driven to extinction by the end of the 17th century through a combination of hunting and the introduction of predatory species
The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism - 
