Coordinates: 21°28′57″S 39°40′19″E / 21.4825°S 39.67194°E
| Bassas da India
Basse de Judie
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| Motto: Liberté, égalité, fraternité | ||||
| Anthem: La Marseillaise |
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 Location of the Scattered islands in the Indian Ocean:
• 1 : Bassas da India • 2 : Europa Island • 3 : Glorioso Islands • 4 : Juan de Nova Island • 5 : Tromelin Island |
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Bassas da India (also called Basse de Judie) is an uninhabited, roughly circular atoll about 10 km in diameter, which corresponds to a total size (including lagoon) of 80 km². It is located in the southern Mozambique Channel, about half-way between Madagascar (which is 385 km to the east) and Mozambique, and 110 km northwest of Europa Island. It rises steeply from the seabed 3000 m below. The reef rim averages around 100 m across and completely encloses a shallow lagoon that has a maximum depth of 15 m. Its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 123,700 km² is contiguous with that of Europa Island.
The atoll consists of ten barren rocky islets, with no vegetation, totalling 0.2 km² in area. Those on the north and east sides are 2.1 to 3 m high, and those on the west and south sides 1.2 m. The reef is completely covered by the sea from 3 hours before to 3 hours after high tide. The coastline of the reef measures 35.2 km. The region is subject to cyclones. The atoll has long been a maritime hazard and is the site of numerous shipwrecks.
About 40 and 70 km southwest of Bassas da India are Jaguar Seamount and Hall Tablemount.
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History
Bassas da India was first recorded by Portuguese explorers in the early sixteenth century. It was first named Baixo da Judia, "Shoal of Judia". "Judia" was the name of a Portuguese ship that ran aground on this reef. This ship was named "Judia" (Jewess in Portuguese), because its owner was a Jewish trader from Portugal.[1] The name became Bassas da India due to transcription errors by cartographers.
It was also discovered by the the Europa in 1774, hence the name "the Europa Rocks".[2]
"The Malay was lost July 27, 1842, on Europa Rocks in Mozambique Channel" [3]
In 1897 it became a French possession, later being placed under the administration of a commissioner residing in Réunion in 1968.
Tourism
Diving at Bassas Da India requires a permit from the French Government. If you dive without this permit your boat will be asked to leave or may even be confiscated.
References
- ^ Bernardo Gomes de Brito. Historia Tragico-Maritima. Em que se escrevem chronologicamente os Naufragios que tiverão as Naos de Portugal, depois que se poz em exercicio a Navegação da India. Lisboa 1735
- ^ "..Europa [R]ocks, was discovered by the ship Europa in 1774." Africa pilot, Part 3 Hydrographic Office of Great Britain.
- ^ Historical Sketch of Salem, 1626-1879
 ISS photograph |
 Landsat 7 image |
 CIA WFB map |
 CIA map |
External links
- Wikimedia Atlas of Bassas da India
- Oceandots
- Sailing Directions: East Africa and the South Indian Ocean
- Bassas da India entry at The World Factbook[dead link]
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This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
