Glorioso Islands

{{Short description|Archipelago in the Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean}}

{{Infobox country

|conventional_long_name = Glorioso Islands

|native_name = {{native name|fr|Îles Glorieuses}}

|image_flag = Flag of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands.svg

|flag_caption = Flag of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands

|alt_flag = Flag of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands

|image_coat =

|symbol_type = Coat of arms

|national_motto = {{lang|fr|Liberté, égalité, fraternité}}
{{small|"Liberty, Equality, Brotherhood"}}

|national_anthem = "La Marseillaise"

}}

{{Infobox island

|disputed = yes

|name =

|image_name = Glorioso Islands ISS002-E-6913.JPG

|image_caption = The Glorioso Islands seen from the ISS, 2001. Grande Glorieuse (left) and Île du Lys (right)

|image_map = Iles eparses de l'ocean Indien.svg

|map_caption = Map of the Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean

|etymology =

|location = Mozambique Channel

|coordinates = {{coord|11|33|S|47|20|E|region:TF|display=inline,title}}

|area_km2 =

|length_km =

|width_km =

|width_mi =

|coastline_km =

|country = {{FRA}}

|country_admin_divisions_title = Overseas territory

|country_admin_divisions = French Southern and Antarctic Lands

|country_admin_divisions_title_1 = District

|country_admin_divisions_1 = Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean

|country1 = {{COM}}

|country2 = {{MAD}}

|population =

|population_as_of =

|timezone1 =

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}}

The Glorieuses or Glorioso Islands ({{langx|fr|Îles Glorieuses}} or officially also {{lang|fr|Archipel des Glorieuses}}) are a group of islands and rocks totaling {{Convert|5|km2|sqmi}}. They are controlled by France as part of the Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean in the French Southern and Antarctic Lands, a French overseas territory, but are also claimed by Comoros, Madagascar and formerly by Seychelles. They are geographically part of the Comoro Islands between the French overseas region of Mayotte and the nation of Madagascar.

Archipelago

File:Txu-pclmaps-oclc-22834566 n-6a.jpg, 1985)]]

The archipelago consists of two islands, Grande Glorieuse ({{Coord|11|34|46.54|S|47|17|54.14|E|type:isle|name=Grande Glorieuse}}) and Île du Lys, as two rock islands, Roches Vertes and Île aux Crabes, along with two sandbanks that emerge at low tide.{{Cite web |title=Les Glorieuses |url=http://www.taaf.fr/rubriques/districts/ilesEparses/iles_LesGlorieuses.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/index2.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.taaf.fr%2Frubriques%2Fdistricts%2FilesEparses%2Files_LesGlorieuses.htm#federation=archive.wikiwix.com&tab=url |archive-date=24 February 2011 |access-date=11 November 2024 |website=www.taaf.fr}}{{Cite journal |last1=Mulochau |last2=Conand |date=October 2008 |title=Holothurians and other echinoderms of the Glorieuses Islands (Scattered Islands of the Indian Ocean) |url=https://inpn.mnhn.fr/docs-web/docs/download/24422 |journal=SPC Beche de Mer Information Bulletin |issue=28 |pages=34 |via=Inventaire national du patrimoine naturel}} They form part of a coral reef and lagoon.{{Cite journal |last1=Battistini |last2=Cremers |date=December 31, 1972 |title=GEOMORPIIOLOGY AND VEGETATION OF ILES GLORIEUSES |url=https://repository.si.edu/bitstream/handle/10088/4830/00159.pdf |journal=Atoll Research Bulletin |location=Washington, D.C. |issue=159 |pages=3 |via=repository.si.edu}} Grande Glorieuses is roughly circular in shape and measures about {{Convert|3|km|mi}} in diameter. It is verdant, mostly by the coconut plantation remains and casuarina trees.{{Cite journal |last1=Jorry |first1=Stephan J. |last2=Camoin |first2=Gilbert F. |last3=Jouet |first3=Gwenaël |last4=Le Roy |first4=Pascal |last5=Claude |first5=Vella |last6=Prat |first6=Sophie |last7=Fontanier |first7=Christophe |last8=Paumard |first8=Victorien |last9=Boulle |first9=Julien |last10=Caline |first10=Bruno |last11=Jean |first11=Borgomano |display-authors=6 |date=18 February 2016 |title=Modern sediments and Pleistocene reefs from isolated carbonate platforms (Iles Eparses, SW Indian Ocean): A preliminary study |url=https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00292/40329/38830.pdf |journal=Acta Oecologica |volume=72 |pages=131 |doi=10.1016/j.actao.2015.10.014 |issn=1146-609X |via=Archive Institutionnelle de l'Ifremer}}

Île du Lys, located at {{Coord|11|30|59.35|S|47|22|36.02|E|type:isle|name=Île du Lys}} about {{convert|8|km}} northeast of Grande Glorieuses, is about {{Convert|600|m|ft}} long and consists of sand dunes and scrub with some mangroves. It was formerly quarried for phosphate (guano).

The Glorieuses have an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of {{Convert|48350|km2|sqmi}}. There are anchorages offshore, and Grande Glorieuse has a {{Convert|1300|m|ft|adj=on}} long airstrip.

Climate

The climate is tropical and the terrain is low and flat, varying in height from sea level to {{Convert|12|m|ft}}. Île de Lys in particular is a nesting ground for migratory seabirds, and turtles lay eggs on the beaches. In the ocean, migratory species such as humpback whales and whale sharks may appear.[http://u555u.info/other/glorioso-islands.awp Glorioso Islands (images)]. Retrieved 16 September 2017.

History

While probably earlier known to Arab (perhaps especially Yemeni) navigators, the Glorieuses were named and settled in 1880 by a Frenchman, Hippolyte Caltaux, who established a coconut plantation on Grande Glorieuse. The archipelago became a French possession in 1892{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HOKTJkg6ApoC |title=The World Factbook |publisher=Central Intelligence Agency |year=2008 |page=211 |access-date=2024-03-03}} when Captain Richard of the Primauget made a formal claim. In 1895, the Glorioso Island became a part of the colony of Mayotte and dependencies.

Historically flora on the islands mostly consisted of bois de rose, portia, banyan and other large native trees, many of which were felled following the establishment of the French settlement and plantation.{{Cite journal |last=Abbott |first=W. L. |date=1894 |title=Notes on the natural history of Aldabra, Assumption and Glorioso Islands, Indian Ocean |url=http://repository.si.edu/xmlui/handle/10088/13354 |journal=Proceedings of the United States National Museum |volume=16 |issue=973 |pages=759–764 |publisher=Smithsonian Libraries and Archives |doi=10.5479/si.00963801.973.759 |issn=0096-3801}}

From 1914 to 1958, concessions to exploit the islands were given to Seychelles companies. The islands are today nature reserves with a meteorological station garrisoned by the French Foreign Legion.{{Cite web|title=Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte {{!}} French Foreign Legion Information|url=http://foreignlegion.info/units/foreign-legion-detachment-in-mayotte/|access-date=2021-02-03|language=en-US}} Despite the Glorioso Islands never having been a part of the Malagasy Protectorate but a part of the colony of Mayotte and dependencies, then a part of French Comoros, Madagascar has claimed sovereignty over the islands since 1972.{{cite web|title=Disputes - International|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2070.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111020141454/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2070.html|archive-date=2011-10-20|access-date=8 November 2011|publisher=CIA World Factbook}} The Comoros claims Mayotte and Glorioso Islands.{{Cite news|title=Comoros hits back against France over visa suspension|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://jp.reuters.com/article/us-comoros-france-immigration-idUSKBN1IA1NP|access-date=2021-04-11}} The Seychelles claimed the islands too before the France–Seychelles Maritime Boundary Agreement in 2001.

In 2012, France founded Glorioso Islands Marine Natural Park, a marine protected area, to preserve the endangered flora and fauna of the islands.{{Cite web |title=Le Parc naturel marin des Glorieuses |trans-title=The Glorieuses Marine Natural Park |url=http://www.aires-marines.fr/L-Agence/Organisation/Parcs-naturels-marins/Parc-naturel-marin-des-Glorieuses |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190909084202/http://www.aires-marines.fr/L-Agence/Organisation/Parcs-naturels-marins/Parc-naturel-marin-des-Glorieuses |archive-date=2019-09-09 |access-date=2024-03-03 |website=Agence des aires marines protégées |language=French}}