Everything about Bassas Da India totally explained
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.
History
Bassas da India was first recorded by
Portuguese explorers in the early
16th 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.
Apparently this reef was renamed
Bassas da India by subsequent cartographers owing to mistakes in their writing the word "Judia" by confusing letters while copying former maps (Capital "J" changed to "I" and "u" to "n").
In
1897 it became a
French possession, later being placed under the administration of a commissioner residing in
Réunion in
1968.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Bassas Da India'.
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