]! ^! This atoll is a volcanic rock surrounded by reefs and is awash at high tide. A French possession since 1897, it was placed under the administration of a commissioner residing in Reunion in 1968. 
]" ^" Southern Africa, islands in the southern Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from Madagascar to Mozambique ^# 21 30 S, 39 50 E ^$ Africa ^% `! 0.2 sq km `" 0.2 sq km `# 0 sq km ^& about one-third the size of The Mall in Washington, DC ^' 0 km ^( 35.2 km ^) `$ 12 nm `I 200 nm ^* tropical ^+ volcanic rock ^, `% Indian Ocean 0 m `& unnamed location 2.4 m ^- none ^. `' 0% `( 0% `) 100% (all rock) (2001) ^/ 0 sq km (1998 est.) ^0 maritime hazard since it is usually under water during high tide and surrounded by reefs; subject to periodic cyclones ^1 NA ^2 the islands emerge from a circular reef that sits atop a long-extinct, submerged volcano 
]# ^3 uninhabited (July 2005 est.) 
]$ ^F `4 none `5 Bassas da India ^G possession of France; administered by the Administrateur Superieur of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands ^N the laws of France, where applicable, apply ^X the flag of France is used 
]% ^Y no economic activity 
]' _C none; offshore anchorage only 
]( _G defense is the responsibility of France 
]) _H claimed by Madagascar 