A Brief Description
The British Indian Ocean Territory (B.I.O.T.), once a single-handedly controlled, widespread archipelago of over 2,300 small islands, is positioned in the Indian Ocean near the Equator, about 1,000 miles southwest of India.
Claimed in 1814, it was then established as a territory of the United Kingdom (UK) in 1965. In just over a decade later, many of the smaller islands were transferred (or given) to the Seychelles when it gained its own independence in 1976.
After that transfer the Chagos Archipelago was all that remained of the B.I.O.T. The largest and most southerly of the islands, Diego Garcia, contains a joint UK-US naval support facility. All of the remaining islands in the archipelago are uninhabited.
When the UK first established the territory in 1965, the original residents of the islands (against their will) were relocated to Mauritius and the Seychelles. In 2001, as a form of compensation, the transferees were granted UK citizenship and eventually demanded that they be allowed to return to their home.
Lately there have been consistent rumors that the British will finally allow the original inhabitants (Chagossians) to return, much to the consternation of the American military force on Diego Garcia, as they still hold the exclusive lease on this strategically placed island.
Read more about the B.I.O.T. here
Facts and Figures
 Name British Indian Ocean Territory (B.I.O.T.)
Population 0 (military personnel and supportive civilian contractors comprise the only temporary population)
Population & Density (all countries) here
Capital City N.A.
Languages N.A.
Flag here
Official Currency N.A.
Religions N.A.
Diego Garcia aerial, from Ted Morris Site
Geographic Coordinates
Latitude/Longitude (Diego Garcia)
06º 34' S, 72º 24' E
Relative Location B.I.O.T. is in both the eastern and southern hemispheres, just a few degrees south of the Equator. It's positioned in the Indian Ocean approximately 1,000 miles southwest of India.
Land Statistics
Coastline 432 miles (698 km)
Land Areas
(land) 23 sq miles (60 sq km)
(water) 0 sq miles (0 sq km)
(TOTAL )23 sq miles (60 sq km)
Land Area (all countries) here
Land Area 60 sq km (23 sq miles)
Landforms
All of the islands are flat coral atolls with no lakes or rivers.
 Highest Point on Diego Garcia - 49 ft. (15 m)
 Lowest Point Indian Ocean - 0 ft. (0 m)
Land Divisions N.A.
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Maps
B.I.O.T. (large color) Map here
B.I.O.T. Outline Map here
B.I.O.T. CIA version here
Diego Garcia Map at UT here
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Asia Continent (printable) here
Asia Outline Map here
Asia (Southeast) Outline Map here
Asia (Name the Country) Map Test here
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Indian Subcontinent Map here
Middle East Landforms here
Middle East Map here
Middle East Outline Map here
Middle East Rivers here
Tsunami Map (December 2004) here
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World Outline Maps (printable) here
World Time Zone Map here
Recommended Links
British Indian Ocean Territory (Complete) info on the (GDP)
economy, imports and exports, natural resources, government, population, military, transportation, and more here!
B.I.O.T. history and more here
Diego Garcia website by Ted Morris here
Travel the World through Poster Art!
Climate
A tropical marine climate with consistently high temperatures and elevated humidity levels.
Windy days are common, however, trade winds do help moderate temperatures, as daily highs (year-round) average near 88ºf, while lows seldom fall below 75ºf.
Traveler Info
Attractions
The British Indian Ocean Territory is the site of a joint U.S. - UK military facility with no approved tourism opportunities.
Country Dialing Code N.A.
Electricity N.A.
Electrical adapters, products and tips here
Travel Warnings N.A.
Visa Information N.A.
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Turkey
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U.A.E.
Uzbekistan
Vietnam
Yemen
Afghanistan
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Bhutan
British Indian
Ocean Terr.
Brunei
Burma (Myanmar)
Cambodia
China
º Hong Kong
º Macau
East Timor
India
° Andaman Is.
° Nicobar Islands
Indonesia
° Bali
Iran
Iraq
Israel
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Lebanon
Malaysia
Maldives
Mongolia
Nepal
North Korea
Oman
Pakistan
Philippines
Qatar
Russian Fed.
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
South Korea
Sri Lanka
Syria
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Thailand
Turkey
Turkmenistan
U.A.E.
Uzbekistan
Vietnam
Yemen
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