Diego Garcia is an island of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), an overseas territory of the United Kingdom. It is the largest and southernmost island of the Chagos Archipelago, situated in the central Indian Ocean. Diego Garcia is a ring-shaped coral atoll and lies at 7.3° South latitude and 72.4° East longitude.
Diego Garcia Island Location Map
Google Map of Diego Garcia - The largest island in the Chagos Archipelago
About Greenland
Diego Garcia is a coral atoll located in the central Indian Ocean and is the largest and southernmost island of the Chagos Archipelago, forming part of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT). Geographically, it lies within the Chagos Archipelago, about 1,600 km south of India and roughly 500 km south of the Maldives, roughly 3,400 km east of Africa, and approximately 2,800 km west of Indonesia. Diego Garcia is ring-shaped, enclosing a large natural lagoon, and is considered one of the largest atolls in the world.
The Diego Garcia island has a total land area of 44 square kilometers, while the lagoon covers a much larger area. Its geography consists mainly of flat coral terrain, sandy beaches, coconut palms, and surrounding coral reefs. Diego Garcia has a tropical maritime climate with warm temperatures throughout the year.
Diego Garcia Airport, a long military runway that supports strategic air operations in the Indian Ocean region. The most notable landmark is the natural lagoon, which provides a deep, sheltered harbor.
There are no civilian local bodies or municipalities on Diego Garcia. Administration is handled directly by BIOT authorities, and the island hosts a joint UK–US military facility. As a result, the population is non-permanent, consisting mainly of military personnel and civilian contractors, with no indigenous civilian population.
Also Explore - Location of Greenland in the World MapDiego Garcia Facts
| Name | Diego Garcia |
| Type | Coral Atoll |
| Archipelago | Chagos Archipelago |
| Territory | British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) |
| Sovereign Administration | United Kingdom |
| Continent | Asia (Geographically in the Indian Ocean) |
| Ocean | Indian Ocean |
| Region | South of South Asia, east of Africa |
| Location | Central Indian Ocean, south of India and west of Indonesia |
| Coordinates | 7.3133° S, 72.4111° E |
| Area | 44 sq km (land area) |
| Population | No permanent civilian population |
| Residents | Military personnel and contractors |
| Major Facility | Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia (U.S.–UK) |
| Strategic Importance | Key military base for operations in the Indian Ocean region |
| Climate | Tropical marine climate |
| Natural Features | Lagoon, coral reefs, beaches, coconut palms |
| Time Zone | UTC +6 (Indian Ocean Time) |
| Currency Used | U.S. Dollar (USD) |
| Calling Code | +246 |
| Internet TLD | .io |
| Famous For | Strategic military base, isolated location, coral atoll geography |
Islands in the Chagos Archipelago
| No | Island / Atoll Name | Island Group / Atoll | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Diego Garcia | Diego Garcia Atoll | Inhabited (military only) |
| 2 | Peros Banhos Atoll | Peros Banhos | Uninhabited |
| 3 | Île du Coin | Peros Banhos Atoll | Uninhabited |
| 4 | Île Pierre | Peros Banhos Atoll | Uninhabited |
| 5 | Île Diamant | Peros Banhos Atoll | Uninhabited |
| 6 | Île Manoël | Peros Banhos Atoll | Uninhabited |
| 7 | Île Yeye | Peros Banhos Atoll | Uninhabited |
| 8 | Île Fouquet | Peros Banhos Atoll | Uninhabited |
| 9 | Salomon Islands | Salomon Atoll | Uninhabited |
| 10 | Île Boddam | Salomon Islands | Uninhabited |
| 11 | Île Anglaise | Salomon Islands | Uninhabited |
| 12 | Île de la Passe | Salomon Islands | Uninhabited |
| 13 | Blenheim Reef | Great Chagos Bank | Submerged reef |
| 14 | Speakers Bank | Great Chagos Bank | Submerged bank |
| 15 | Victory Bank | Great Chagos Bank | Submerged bank |