The British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) or Chagos Islands is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom situated in the Indian Ocean, halfway between Africa and Indonesia. The territory comprises the six atolls of the Chagos Archipelago with over 1,000 individual islands (many tiny) having a total land area of 60 square kilometres (23 sq mi).Capital(and largest city) Diego Garcia,Official languages English,Government British Overseas Territory,- Commissioner Leigh Turner,- Administrator Tony Humphries ,Created 1965 ,Density 58.3/km� (n/a),160.0/sq mi,Time zone (UTC+6)- Summer (DST) (UTC+?) ,Internet TLD .io,Calling code +246
The largest island is Diego Garcia (area 44 km2), the site of a joint military facility of the United Kingdom and the United States. Following the eviction of the native population in the 1960s, the only inhabitants are US and UK military personnel and associated contractors, who collectively number around
4,000.According to the 2000 census, Christianity is the majority religion with 45.55% of the population adhering to it. Small communities of Hindus (38.55%) and Muslims (9.25%) also exist.All economic activity is concentrated on Diego Garcia, where joint UK-US defence facilities are located. Approximately 2,000 native inhabitants, known as the Chagossians or Ilois, were forcibly relocated to Mauritius before construction of these facilities; in 1995, there were approximately 1,700 UK and US military personnel and 1,500 civilian contractors living on the island.
Construction projects and various services needed to support the military installations are carried out by military and contract employees from the UK, Mauritius, the Philippines, and the US. There are no industrial or agricultural activities on the islands. The licensing of commercial fishing provides an annual income of about $1 million for the territory.
Separate telephone facilities for military and public needs are available, providing all standard commercial telephone services, including connection to the Internet. International telephone service is carried by communications satellite. The territory has three radio broadcast stations, one AM and two FM, and one television broadcast station. Because of its equatorial location,Diego Garcia can use geosynchronous satellites over the Indian Ocean and also some over the eastern Atlantic Ocean. Fairly active amateur radio operations occur from Diego Garcia, using the British callsign prefix VQ9.
Postage stamps have been issued for British Indian Ocean Territory since January 17, 1968. Since the territory was originally part of the Seychelles, these stamps were denominated in rupees until 1992. However, after 1992 they became denominated in pounds sterling which is the official currency of the territory.
Yes has she been gracious toward her Chagossian subjects? So noble she gave permission to forcible remove them from their home to give it to USA for a military base. Go and look for the truth.
umvhu 1 week ago