British Indian Ocean Territory

British Indian Ocean Territory archipelago, c.1,180 mi (1,900 km), NE of Mauritius, in the central Indian Ocean. The islands, which form the Chagos Archipelago and are located on the southern end of a chain of sea mounts that also includes Lakshadweep and the Maldives , were administered by Mauritius before they were made a separate dependency by the British in 1965. Their importance is primarily strategic; the United States and Britain maintain a major naval facility on the main island, Diego Garcia . Between 1967 and 1973 Britain evicted the Chagos islanders as the archipelago was converted to purely military use. In 2000 they secured a British court decision declaring their explusion illegal, but the British government subsequently (2004) prevented their return to the outlying Chagos islands. The islanders again successfully challenged the government in court in 2007, but the government won on appeal the following year. The archipelago is claimed by Mauritius, Maldives, and Seychelles.

British Indian Ocean Territory British colony in the Indian Ocean comprising the islands of the Chagos Archipelago, 1900km (1200mi) ne of Mauritius. In 1814 France ceded the territory to Britain, and it was administered by Mauritius. In 1965, Britain bought it from Mauritius in order to build a joint US-UK naval base on Diego Garcia island. In 1976, the islands of Aldabra, Farquhar, and Desroches reverted to Seychelles administration. Industries: coconuts, fishing. Area: 80sq km (31sq mi). There is no permanent population.