Tromelin Island, a wildlife sanctuary, is located 400 miles north of Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean and is only 3/10 of a square mile in size.  The island is not open to tourism.  The only facility on the island is an important meteorological station which gathers data for forecasting cyclones and hurricanes.  First explored by the French in 1776, the island came under the jurisdiction of Reunion in 1814.   The island was discovered when the French ship Utile, which was carrying slaves at the time, hit the reefs of the island.  The crew got on a floatable raft to make it to Madagascar, while they left 60 slaves on Tromelin Island.  Fifteen years later in 1776, the chevalier de Tromelin, (from whom the island takes its name) captain of the French warship La Dauphine, came upon the Island and rescued the slaves that were still alive--seven women and an eight-month-old child.  Tromelin Island was occupied by France in 1954 while it was part of Mauritius and it is claimed by Mauritius.  The French Southern and Antarctic Territory (TAAF) controls the island.  They have an office on Reunion Island and in Paris, France.

My name is Don Jones. I spent my  21st birthday operating amateur radio on Tromelin Island.  I was there for approximately ten days.  For more information about me, visit www.qrz.com/db/k6zo and www.westsideparkfellowship.blogspot.com. An amateur radio Dxpedition is planned for Tromelin Island from October 30 to November 10, 2014.  Visit www.tromelin2014.com for more information.