Geography and Environment

Geography and Environment of British Indian Ocean Territory

Terrain, climate, natural resources, hazards, and environmental conditions of British Indian Ocean Territory.

Natural Resources: Fish, coconuts, and limited marine resources. The territory's waters are rich in diverse fish species and other marine life, supported by one of the largest marine protected areas in the world, established around the Chagos Archipelago. Sugarcane, once cultivated during earlier periods of habitation, is no longer a significant resource given the absence of a permanent civilian population. The surrounding Indian Ocean provides the most commercially and ecologically significant natural assets, including tuna and other pelagic species that attract licensed fishing activity in the exclusive economic zone.
Natural Hazards: NA

Detailed geography