View source for Bassas da India

{{Short description|French atoll in the Mozambique Channel}}
{{EngvarB|date=June 2025}}
{{Expand French|Bassas da India|date=February 2017|topic=geo}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}

{{Infobox country
|conventional_long_name = Bassas da India
| image_flag             = Flag of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands.svg
| flag_caption           = [[Flag of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands]]
| flag_size              = 130
| alt_flag               = Flag of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands
| image_coat             = Armoiries Terres australes et antarctiques françaises.svg
| coa_size               = 85
| symbol_type            = {{illm|Coat of arms of French Southern and Antarctic Lands|fr|Armoiries des Terres australes et antarctiques françaises|lt=Coat of arms}}
| alt_coat               = Coat of arms of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands
| status = District of [[French Southern and Antarctic Lands]]
| national_motto                   = {{native phrase|fr|"[[Liberté, égalité, fraternité]]"|italics=off}} ({{Langx|en|"Liberty, equality, fraternity"}})
| national_anthem                   = {{lang|fr|[[La Marseillaise]]}}<br/>{{Small|("The Marseillaise")}}<br/>{{Center|[[File:La Marseillaise.ogg]]}}
}}

{{Infobox island
 |disputed = yes
 |name = 
 |image_name = 
 |image_map = Iles eparses de l'ocean Indien.svg
 |map_caption = Map of the [[Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean]]
 |etymology =
 |location = [[Mozambique Channel]]
 |coordinates = {{Coord|21|29|S|39|41|E|region:FR-TF_type:isle|display=inline,title}}
 |area_km2 = 
 |length_km = 
 |width_km = 
 |width_mi = 
 |coastline_km = 
 |country = {{FRA}}
 |country_admin_divisions_title = [[Overseas territory (France)|Overseas territory]]
 |country_admin_divisions = [[French Southern and Antarctic Lands]]
 |country_admin_divisions_title_1 = District
 |country_admin_divisions_1 = [[Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean]]
 |country1 = {{MAD}}
 |population = 
 |population_as_of = 
 |timezone1 = 
 |utc_offset1 = 
}}

'''Bassas da India''' ({{IPA|fr|basa da ɛ̃dja}}; {{langx|mg|Nosy Bedimaky}}) is an uninhabited, roughly circular [[atoll]] located in the southern [[Mozambique Channel]], about halfway between [[Mozambique]] and [[Madagascar]] (about {{convert|385|km|abbr=on|disp=sqbr}} farther east) and around {{convert|110|km|abbr=on}} northwest of [[Europa Island]]. It is administered by France as part of the [[French Southern and Antarctic Lands]], though it is claimed by [[Madagascar]]. The rim of the atoll averages around {{convert|100|m|abbr=on}} in width and encloses a shallow lagoon of depth no greater than {{convert|15|m|abbr=on}}. Overall, the atoll is about {{convert|10|km|abbr=on}} in diameter, rising steeply from the [[seabed]] {{convert|3000|m|abbr=on}} below to encircle an area (including lagoon) of {{convert|80|km2|abbr=on}}. Its [[exclusive economic zone]], {{convert|123700|km²|abbr=on}} in size, is [[Contiguous zone|contiguous]] with that of [[Europa Island]].<ref>{{cite act |url=https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT000000883905 |index=78–146 |type=Decree |date=3 February 1978 |title=Décret n° 78–146 du 3 février 1978 portant création, en application de la loi du 16 juillet 1976, d'une zone économique au large des côtes des îles Tromelin, Glorieuses, Juan-de-Nova, Europa et Bassas-da-India |publisher=Government of France |language=fr}}</ref>

The atoll consists of ten barren rocky [[islet]]s, with no vegetation, totalling {{convert|20|ha}} in area. Those on the north and east sides are {{convert|7|to|10|ft|order=flip}} high, while those on the west and south sides are {{convert|4|ft|order=flip}} high. The reef, whose coastline measures {{convert|35.2|km|abbr=on}}, is entirely covered by the sea from three hours before [[Tide|high tide]] to three hours afterward. The region is also subject to [[cyclone]]s, making the atoll a long-time maritime hazard and the site of numerous shipwrecks.

[[Jaguar Seamount]] and [[Hall Tablemount]] lie about {{convert|40|and|70|km}} further southwest.

== History ==
The Bassas da India was first recorded by [[Portuguese explorers]] in the early sixteenth century as the "'''''Baixo da'' Judia'''" ("''Jewess'' Shoals"). The ''Judia'' ("''Jewess''", for the ancestry of its owner [[Fernão de Loronha]]<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Relaçam do navfragio da nao Santiago & itenerario da gente que delle se salvou |last=Cardozo |first=Manoel Godinho |orig-year=First published 1602 |editor-first=Bernardo |editor-last=Gomes de Brito |encyclopedia=[[História trágico-marítima]] |page=[https://archive.org/details/historiatragicom02brit/page/n193/ 47] |location=Lisbon |publisher=Off. da Congregaçao do Oratorio |volume=II |year=1736 |lang=pt}}</ref>) was the Portuguese ship that discovered the feature by running aground on it in 1506.<ref>{{cite journal |first=Brian R. |last=Stuckenberg |title=The location and identity of the Baixos da Judia : Portuguese historical cartography of the Mozambique Channel and its relevance to the wreck of the Santiago in 1585 |journal=Natal Museum Journal of Humanities |volume=12 |publisher=Council of the Natal Museum |location=Pietermaritzburg, South Africa |pages=51–79 |date=December 2000 |issn=1015-0935}}</ref> The name became "'''Bassas da India'''" due to transcription errors by cartographers. The ''Santiago'' broke up on the shoal in 1585.

It was rediscovered by the ''Europa'' in 1774, whence the name "Europa Rocks".<ref>{{cite book |quote=Bassas da India, sometimes named Europa rocks, was discovered by the ship ''Europa'' in 1774. |author-first=Algernon F. R. |author-last=de Horsey |title=The Africa Pilot, Part III : South and east coasts of Africa from the Cape of Good Hope to Cape Guardafui, including the islands in the Mozambique Channel |publisher=[[United Kingdom Hydrographic Office|Hydrographic Office of Great Britain]] |location=London |edition=3rd |date=1878 |page=410 |oclc=36761841}}</ref> The ''Malay'' was lost 27 July 1842 on the Europa Rocks.<ref>{{cite book |first1=Chas. S. |last1=Osgood |first2=H. M. |last2=Batchelder |title=Historical Sketch of Salem, 1626–1879 |date=1879 |location=Salem |publisher=Essex Institute |oclc=248257682 |page=[https://archive.org/details/historicalsketc00osgogoog/page/n263/mode/2up 202]}}</ref>

In 1897, the shoal became a [[Third French Republic|French]] possession, later being placed under the administration of a commissioner residing in [[Réunion]] in 1968. [[Madagascar]] became independent in 1960 and has claimed sovereignty over the shoal since 1972. The Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean are partially claimed by the Comoros, Madagascar, and Mauritius.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.radiofrance.fr/franceinter/podcasts/le-monde-a-l-envers/les-confettis-de-l-empire-colonial-francais-qui-irritent-madagascar-3700358 | title=Les confettis de l'empire colonial français qui irritent Madagascar| date=22 October 2019 }}</ref> The Malagasy and Mauritian claims, however, are significantly later than their access to independence. However, the agreement reached in October 2024 on the restitution to Mauritius of the Chagos Islands by Great Britain, in the heart of the Indian Ocean, notably home to the American base of Diego Garcia, has relaunched the debate in Madagascar.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://blog.mondediplo.net/derisoires-sentinelles | title=Dérisoires sentinelles sur la route des super-pétroliers| date=6 June 2025 }}</ref>

== Wildlife ==
The presence of [[Galapagos shark]]s was reported in 2003, which is a first in the [[Mozambique Channel]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Hammerschlag|first1=Neil|last2=Fallows|first2=Chris|title=Galapagos sharks (Carcharhinus galapagensis) at the Bassas da India atoll: first record from the Mozambique Channel and significance can have a nursery area|journal=South African Journal of Science|volume=101|pages=375–377}}</ref>

== Tourism ==
[[Mooring (watercraft)|Mooring]] at Bassas da India requires a permit from the French Government.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://taaf.fr/acceder-aux-territoires/demandes-dactivites-et-dacces/acces-et-mouillage-dans-les-eparses/ |title=Accès et mouillage dans les Eparses |trans-title=Access and mooring in the Scattered Islands |language=fr |access-date=2020-02-03 |website=TAAF : Terres australes et antarctiques françaises |publisher=Government of France}}</ref> Fishing without such a permit may result in the boat being expelled or even confiscated.<ref>{{cite act |url=https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/loda/id/JORFTEXT000000880593/ |index=83-582 |date=5 July 1983 |title=Loi n° 83-582 du 5 juillet 1983 relative au régime de la saisie et complétant la liste des agents habilités à constater les infractions dans le domaine des pêches maritimes |publisher=Government of France |language=fr}}</ref> Several illegal tourism charters departing from Mozambique or South Africa have been seized since 2013 by the [[French navy]].<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.defense.gouv.fr/operations/prepositionnees/actualites/fazsoi-operation-combinee-de-controle-des-peches-dans-le-canal-du-mozambique |title=FAZSOI : Opération combinée de contrôle des pêches dans le canal du Mozambique |trans-title=FAZSOI: Combined fisheries control operation in the Mozambique Channel |language=fr |publisher=[[French Ministry of Defense]] |date=13 November 2013 |access-date=5 February 2020 |archive-date=26 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226223953/https://www.defense.gouv.fr/operations/prepositionnees/actualites/fazsoi-operation-combinee-de-controle-des-peches-dans-le-canal-du-mozambique |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ipreunion.com/evenements/reportage/2014/10/09/iles-parses-peche-non-autorisee-le-floreal-intercepte-un-bateau-au-large-de-bassas-da-india,27539.html |title=Pêche non autorisée : le ''Floréal'' intercepte un bateau au large de Bassas da India |trans-title=Unauthorized fishing : the ''[[French frigate Floréal|Floréal]]'' intercepts a boat off Bassas da India |language=fr |publisher=Imaz Press Réunion |date=9 October 2014}}</ref>

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Bassas da India atoll map-fr.png|Detailed map.
File:Bassas da india.jpg|[[International Space Station]] (ISS) photograph.
File:Bassas da India.png|[[Landsat program|Landsat 7]] image.
File:Bassas da India-CIA WFB Map.png|[[The World Factbook|''CIA World Factbook'']] map.
File:Bassas da india 76.jpg|[[Central Intelligence Agency]] map.
File:Bassas da India in Sunglint.jpg|ISS image of Bassas da India with varying degrees of sunglint.
</gallery>

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite magazine|title=A tale of two atolls|magazine=National Geographic|date=April 2014|first=Kennedy|last=Warne|pages=62–75}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Bassas da India}}
* {{wikiatlas|Bassas da India}}
* {{cite web |title=Oceandots |url=http://www.oceandots.com/indian/mozambique-channel/bassas-da-india.php |access-date=2009-03-14 |url-status=usurped<!--for sale 6 March 2024--> |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101223043232/http://www.oceandots.com/indian/mozambique-channel/bassas-da-india.php |archive-date=23 December 2010  }}
* [http://permanent.access.gpo.gov/websites/pollux/pollux.nss.nima.mil/NAV_PUBS/SD/pub171/171sec09.pdf Sailing Directions: East Africa and the South Indian Ocean]
* [https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/french-southern-and-antarctic-lands/ French Southern and Antarctic Lands]. ''[[The World Factbook]]''. [[Central Intelligence Agency]]..

{{French overseas departments and territories |Uninhabited}}
{{Outlying territories of European countries}}
{{Scattered islands in the Indian Ocean}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Indian Ocean atolls of France]]
[[Category:Atolls of Madagascar]]
[[Category:Uninhabited islands of France]]
[[Category:Islands of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands]]
[[Category:Territorial disputes of France]]
[[Category:Territorial disputes of Madagascar]]
[[Category:France–Madagascar relations]]