Tromelin Island

Tromelin Island, also called the Isle of Sand, is a small, flat island in the Indian Ocean. It is about 500 km north of Réunion and 450 km east of Madagascar. Both France and Mauritius say they own the island. France includes it in the Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean, part of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands.

The island is used for scientific research and has a weather station. It is an important place for birds to nest and for green sea turtles to lay their eggs. Though very small, Tromelin Island helps us learn about nature and the environment.

Etymology

The island is named after Jacques Marie Boudin de Tromelin de La Nuguy. He was the captain of a French ship called Dauphine. In 1776, he helped eight people from Madagascar who had been stuck there for many years.

Description

Tromelin Island is located in the Mascarene Basin and is part of the Îles Éparses. It is only 7 meters (23 feet) tall. The island used to be a volcano, but now it is worn down and has a ring of coral called an atoll.

The island is about 1,700 meters (1.1 miles) long and 700 meters (0.43 miles) wide. It covers 80 hectares (200 acres) and has scrubby plants, mainly octopus bush. It is bordered by coral reefs. It is hard to reach by sea because there are no ports. The best place to anchor is not very good, and the easiest spot to land is on the east side of the northern part. There is a 1,200-meter (3,900-foot) airstrip to connect the island to the rest of the world.

Fauna and flora

Tromelin Island doesn't have many plants because of its tough weather and lack of fresh water. Strong winds blow across the island most of the year, and big storms sometimes hit in the summer. The only plants that grow there are grass and small bushes.

The island is a special place for animals. Many hermit crabs, seabirds, and sea turtles live there. Green turtles and hawksbill sea turtles come to nest on the sand. The waters around the island are full of fish, and there are many types of coral. Some animals like rats, mice, and rabbits were brought to the island by ships that wrecked long ago.

Important bird area

Tromelin Island is very important for birds. It is a place where many seabirds lay their eggs and raise their young. Two kinds of boobies, called masked boobies and red-footed boobies, make their homes here. Rats that came to the island long ago hurt the bird populations. But after efforts to remove the rats, the number of bird species and pairs has grown a lot. There are no land birds that stay on the island all year.

History

The island was found by France in the 1720s and was called "Isle of Sand."

In 1761, a French ship named Utile got stuck on the island's reefs. The ship had people from Madagascar on board who were going to Mauritius. After the wreck, some of the crew and about 60 Malagasy people reached the island. They built shelters and tried to survive. The crew left in a small boat to get help but did not come back for many years.

In 1776, another ship came and saved the survivors—seven women and a young child—who had lived on the island for 15 years. They had stayed alive by finding food and keeping a fire going.

In 2006, researchers went to the island to learn more about what happened. They found tools and remains of buildings. These discoveries helped tell the story of the survivors’ time on the island.

Tromelin is managed by France as part of its French Southern and Antarctic Lands, but Mauritius also says the island belongs to them. Both countries have talked about sharing the island, but the final decision about who owns it is still being discussed. France built a weather station on Tromelin in 1954, and it is still working today.

Climate

Tromelin Island has a tropical savanna climate. The average temperature is about 26.7 °C (80.1 °F) each year. February is the warmest month and August is the coolest. The island gets about 1,073.7 mm (42.27 in) of rain each year.