Agaléga
The Agalega Islands are a two islands in the Indian Ocean. Politically they belong to Mauritius, although they are 1100 km north of Mauritius and thus closer to Madagascar or the Seychelles.
History
Agalega was discovered in 1509 by the Portuguese Diego Lopez de Sequiera. The islands were named possibly after one of the ships ( " La Galega " ) of the Portuguese navigator Pedro Mascarenhas, who traveled the islands around 1512. They first appear on a map of 1517 as Ilha do Gale. After more than two centuries of oblivion, the archipelago was rediscovered in 1758 by the French ship Rubis.
Agalega was settled in 1808 by Mauritius (main island) from.
Geography
Agalega consists of two islands with a total area of 24 km ². The official indicating the area of 70 km ² seems excessive compared with satellite images. The islands lie within a fringing reef, which also encloses a very narrow, 25 to 100 meters wide lagoon. The islands are bordered by a 20 to 30 meter wide beach. The total area within the Riffkranzes is 37 km ². The two islands are separated by 1.8 km wide, La Passe, which can be crossed at low water on dry ground.
The highest elevations are the coastal sand dunes Montagne d' Emmerez on the North Island ( 15 meters) and Grande Montagne on the South Island (7 meters).
The archipelago has about 300 inhabitants (289 according to the 2000 census ) spread over three villages. They speak Agalega Creole.
The North Island measures 12.5 by 1.5 km, with an area of 14.3 km ². Here is the airfield Agalega airstrip (ICAO ID: FIMA ), the Port of Saint James, the main town Vingt Cinq and the village of La Fourche.
The South Island measures 7 by 4.5 km, with an area of 9.7 km ². Here is the village of Sainte Rita, and a weather station.
Management
Agalega belongs next to St. Brandon to the Outer Islands of Mauritius. Because of Iceland Agalega Island Council Council Act 2004 ( Iceland Council) was set up to administer the islands, whose members not elected, but appointed by the government. Before Agalega was managed by the Outer Islands Corporation, a consortium of government and business, which was represented by a manager on the islands who had also judicial power.
Economy
The main industry of the islands is the production of copra and coconut oil. For personal use fisheries are conducted. Until recently, on the islands was no cash in circulation, the money transfer was made with government vouchers.
Fauna
On the islands endemic gecko species exists ( Phelsuma borbonica agalegae ). Other land animals include a population of ibises.