1992 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1992 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Climate
antarctic
Coastline
1,232 km
Comparative area
slightly less than 1.5 times the size of Delaware
Disputes
Terre Adelie claim in Antarctica is not recognized by the US
Environment
Ile Amsterdam and Ile Saint-Paul are extinct volcanoes
Exclusive economic zone
200 nm (Iles Kerguelen only)
Land area
7,781 km2; includes Ile Amsterdam, Ile Saint-Paul, Iles Kerguelen, and Iles Crozet; excludes Terre Adelie claim of about 500,000 km2 in Antarctica that is not recognized by the US
Land boundaries
none
Land use
arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100%
Natural resources
fish, crayfish
Note
located in the southern Indian Ocean about equidistant between Africa, Antarctica, and Australia
Terrain
volcanic
Territorial sea
12 nm
Total area
7,781 km2
People and Society
Population
summer (January 1991) - 200, winter (July 1992) - 150, growth rate 0.0% (1992); note - mostly researchers
Government
Administrative divisions
none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 3 districts named Ile Crozet, Iles Kerguelen, and Iles Saint-Paul et Amsterdam; excludes Terre Adelie claim in Antarctica that is not recognized by the US
Capital
none; administered from Paris, France
Flag
the flag of France is used
Long-form name
Territory of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Type
overseas territory of France since 1955; governed by High Administrator Bernard de GOUTTES (since May 1990), who is assisted by a 7-member Consultative Council and a 12-member Scientific Council
Economy
Budget
$33.6 million (1990)
Overview
Economic activity is limited to servicing meteorological and geophysical research stations and French and other fishing fleets. The fishing catches landed on Iles Kerguelen by foreign ships are exported to France and Reunion.
Communications
Merchant marine
12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 192,752 GRT/334,400 DWT; includes 1 cargo, 3 refrigerated cargo, 2 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 2 petroleum tanker, 1 liquefied gas, 2 bulk, 1 multifunction large load carrier; note - a captive subset of the French register
Ports
none; offshore anchorage only
Telecommunications
NA
Military and Security
Branches
French Forces (including Army, Navy, Air Force)
Note
defense is the responsibility of France