Geography of British Indian Ocean Territory
| Location: | archipelago in the Indian Ocean, south of India, about one-half the way from Africa to Indonesia |
| Geographic coordinates: | 6 00 S, 71 30 E; note - Diego Garcia 7 20 S, 72 25 E |
| Map references: | Political Map of the World |
| Area: | total: 54,400 sq km land: 60 sq km; Diego Garcia 44 sq km water: 54,340 sq km note: includes the entire Chagos Archipelago of 55 islands |
| Area - comparative: | land area is about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC |
| Land boundaries: | 0 km |
| Coastline: | 698 km |
| Maritime claims: | territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm |
| Climate: | tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds |
| Terrain: | flat and low (most areas do not exceed two meters in elevation) |
| Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Diego Garcia 15 m |
| Natural resources: | coconuts, fish, sugarcane |
| Land use: | arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005) |
| Irrigated land: | 0 sq km |
| Natural hazards: | NA |
| Environment - current issues: | NA |
| Geography - note: | archipelago of 55 islands; Diego Garcia, largest and southernmost island, occupies strategic location in central Indian Ocean; island is site of joint US-UK military facility |