List of islands in the Chagos Archipelago facts for kids

The Chagos Archipelago is a group of many small, tropical islands in the Indian Ocean. Imagine 58 tiny islands spread across seven atolls! They are located about 500 kilometers (310 miles) south of the Maldives. These islands are part of the British Indian Ocean Territory, which means they are a special overseas territory of the United Kingdom.

Exploring the Chagos Islands

The Chagos Archipelago is made up of several different atolls and banks, each with its own unique islands. Let's take a look at some of the main ones.

Speakers Bank: A Hidden Reef

Speakers Bank is a large, mostly underwater reef. It has one main feature:

• Great Speakers Reef

Blenheim Reef: Islands in a Ring

Blenheim Reef is another atoll with a few small islands. These islands form a ring around a central lagoon:

• Ile du Nord (North Island)
• Ile du Milieu (Middle Island)
• Ile de l'Est (East Island)
• Ile du Sud (South Island)

Peros Banhos: A Large Atoll with Many Islands

Peros Banhos is one of the largest atolls in the Chagos Archipelago. It has many islands, some of which are very well known. The islands are found along its southwest, northwest, and eastern edges.

Islands on the Southwest Rim

• Île Fouquet
• Mapou de l'Île du Coin
• Île du Coin
• Île Anglaise
• Île Monpâtre
• Île Gabrielle
• Île Poule

Islands on the Northwest Rim

• Petite Soeur (Little Sister)
• Grande Soeur (Big Sister)
• Île Finon
• Île Verte (Green Island)
• Île Libbon
• Île Manon
• Île Pierre
• Île Diable (Devil Island)
• Petite Île Mapou
• Grande Île Mapou
• Île Diamant (Diamond Island)

Islands in the Eastern Part

• Île de la Passe
• Moresby Island
• Île Saint-Brandon
• Île Parasol
• Île Longue (Long Island)
• Grande Île Bois Mangue
• Petite Île Bois Mangue
• Île Manoël
• Île Animaux
• Île Yeye
• Petite Île Coquillage
• Grande Île Coquillage
• Coin du Mire
• Île Vache Marine (Sea Cow Island)

The channel called Passe de l'Île Poule is also known as Passe Elisabeth on older maps.

Salomon Islands: A Smaller Group

The Salomon Islands form a smaller atoll within the Chagos Archipelago. Here are some of its islands:

• Île de la Passe
• Île Mapou
• Île Takamaka
• Île Fouquet
• Île Sepulture
• Île Jacobin
• Île du Sel
• Île Poule
• Île Boddam
• Île Diable
• Île Anglaise

Great Chagos Bank: Home to Famous Islands

The Great Chagos Bank is the largest atoll structure in the world. It includes several well-known islands:

• Danger Island
• Eagle Islands
  • Île Aigle (Eagle Island)
  • Sea Cow Island (Île Vache Marines)
• Three Brothers (Trois Fréres)
  • South Brother Island (Île du Sud)
  • Middle Brother Island (Île du Milieu)
  • North Brother Island (Île du Nord)
  • Resurgent
• Nelsons Island: This island is about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) long from east to west.

Diego Garcia: The Largest Island

Diego Garcia is the largest island in the Chagos Archipelago. It is shaped like a horseshoe. It also has a few smaller islands nearby:

• East Island
• Middle Island
• West Island
• Anniversary Island (This is a sand bar, a small strip of sand.)

Egmont Islands: A Cluster of Six

The Egmont Islands are a group of six islands that form an atoll. They are also known as the Six Men's Islands.

• Île Sud-Est (Southeast Island)
• Île Takamaka
• Île Carre Pate
• Île Lubine
• Île Cipaye
• Île aux Rats (Rat Island)