2009 Edition

Adelie Land

The only non-insular district of the TAAF is the Antarctic claim known as "Adelie Land." The US Government does not recognize it as a French dependency.

Background

In February 2007, the Iles Eparses became an integral part of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF). The Southern Lands are now divided into five administrative districts, two of which are archipelagos, Iles Crozet and Iles Kerguelen; the third is a district composed of two volcanic islands, Ile Saint-Paul and Ile Amsterdam; the fourth, Iles Eparses, consists of five scattered tropical islands around Madagascar. They contain no permanent inhabitants and are visited only by researchers studying the native fauna, scientists at the various scientific stations, fishermen, and military personnel. The fifth district is the Antarctic portion, which consists of "Adelie Land," a thin slice of the Antarctic continent discovered and claimed by the French in 1840.

Bassas da India

A French possession since 1897, this atoll is a volcanic rock surrounded by reefs and is awash at high tide.

Europa Island

This heavily wooded island has been a French possession since 1897; it is the site of a small military garrison that staffs a weather station.

Glorioso Islands

A French possession since 1892, the Glorioso Islands are composed of two lushly vegetated coral islands (Ile Glorieuse and Ile du Lys) and three rock islets. A military garrison operates a weather and radio station on Ile Glorieuse.

Ile Amsterdam

Discovered but not named in 1522 by the Spanish, the island subsequently received the appellation of Nieuw Amsterdam from a Dutchman; it was claimed by France in 1843. A short-lived attempt at cattle farming began in 1871. A French meteorological station established on the island in 1949 is still in use.

Ile Saint Paul

Claimed by France since 1893, the island was a fishing industry center from 1843 to 1914. In 1928, a spiny lobster cannery was established, but when the company went bankrupt in 1931, seven workers were abandoned. Only two survived until 1934 when rescue finally arrived.

Iles Crozet

A large archipelago formed from the Crozet Plateau,

Iles Crozet is divided into two main groups

L'Occidental (the West), which includes Ile aux Cochons, Ilots des Apotres, Ile des Pingouins, and the reefs Brisants de l'Heroine; and L'Oriental (the east), which includes Ile d'Est and Ile de la Possession (the largest island of the Crozets). Discovered and claimed by France in 1772, the islands were used for seal hunting and as a base for whaling. Originally administered as a dependency of Madagascar, they became part of the TAAF in 1955.

Iles Kerguelen

This island group, discovered in 1772, is made up of one large island (Ile Kerguelen) and about 300 smaller islands. A permanent group of 50 to 100 scientists resides at the main base at Port-aux-Francais.

Juan de Nova Island

Named after a famous 15th century Spanish navigator and explorer, the island has been a French possession since 1897. It has been exploited for its guano and phosphate. Presently a small military garrison oversees a meteorological station.

Tromelin Island

First explored by the French in 1776, the island came under the jurisdiction of Reunion in 1814. At present, it serves as a sea turtle sanctuary and is the site of an important meteorological station.

Bassas da India (Iles Eparses)

21 30 S, 39 50 E

total - 80 sq km; land - 0.2 sq km; water - 79.8 sq km (lagoon)

land area about one-third the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

35.2 km

atoll, awash at high tide; shallow (15 m) lagoon

the atoll is a circular reef that sits atop a long-extinct, submerged volcano

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont de la Dives on Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul) 867 m; unnamed location on Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul) 272 m; Pic Marion-Dufresne in Iles Crozet 1,090 m; Mont Ross in Iles Kerguelen 1,850 m; unnamed location on Bassas de India (Iles Eparses) 2.4 m; unnamed location on Europa Island (Iles Eparses) 24 m; unnamed location on Glorioso Islands (Iles Eparses) 12 m; unnamed location on Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses) 10 m; unnamed location on Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses) 7 m

Environment - current issues

introduction of foreign species on Iles Crozet has caused severe damage to the original ecosystem; overfishing of Patagonian toothfish around Iles Crozet and Iles Kerguelen

Europa Island (Iles Eparses)

22 20 S, 40 22 E

total - 28 sq km; land - 28 sq km; water - 0 sq km

about one-sixth the size of Washington, DC

22.2 km

Europa Island and Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses)

wildlife sanctuary for seabirds and sea turtles

Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island

low, flat, and sandy

Geography - note

islands component is widely scattered across remote locations in the southern Indian Ocean

Glorioso Island (Iles Eparses)

the islands and rocks are surrounded by an extensive reef system

Glorioso Islands (Iles Eparses)

11 30 S, 47 20 E

total - 5 sq km; land - 5 sq km; water - 0 sq km

about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

35.2 km

Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul)

37 50 S, 77 32 E

total - 55 sq km; land - 55 sq km; water - 0 sq km country comparison to the world: 229

less than one-half the size of Washington, DC

28 km

a volcanic island with steep coastal cliffs; the center floor of the volcano is a large plateau

Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul

oceanic with persistent westerly winds and high humidity

Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul)

38 72 S, 77 53 E

total - 7 sq km; land - 7 sq km; water - 0 sq km

more than 10 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

triangular in shape, the island is the top of a volcano, rocky with steep cliffs on the eastern side; has active thermal springs

Iles Crozet

46 25 S, 51 00 E

total - 352 sq km; land - 352 sq km; water - 0 sq km

about twice the size of Washington, DC

windy, cold, wet, and cloudy

a large archipelago formed from the Crozet Plateau is divided into two groups of islands

Iles Eparses

tropical

Iles Kerguelen

49 15 S, 69 35 E

total - 7,215 sq km; land - 7,215 sq km; water - 0 sq km

slightly larger than Delaware

2,800 km

oceanic, cold, overcast, windy

the interior of the large island of Ile Kerguelen is composed of rugged terrain of high mountains, hills, valleys, and plains with a number of peninsulas stretching off its coasts

Irrigated land

0 sq km

Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses)

17 03 S, 42 45 E

total - 4.4 sq km; land - 4.4 sq km; water - 0 sq km

about seven times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

24.1 km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul) - 100% trees, grasses, ferns, and moss; Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul) - 100% grass, ferns, and moss; Iles Crozet - 100% tossock grass, heath, and fern; Iles Kerguelen - 100% tossock grass and Kerguelen cabbage; Bassas da India (Iles Eparses) - 100% rock, coral reef, and sand; Europa Island (Iles Eparses) - 100% mangrove swamp and dry woodlands; Glorioso Islands (Iles Eparses) - 100% lush vegetation and coconut palms; Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses) - 90% forest, 10% other; Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses) - 100% grasses and scattered brush (2005)

Location

southeast and east of Africa, islands in the southern Indian Ocean, some near Madagascar and others about equidistant between Africa, Antarctica, and Australia; note - French Southern and Antarctic Lands include Ile Amsterdam, Ile Saint-Paul, Iles Crozet, Iles Kerguelen, Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island in the southern Indian Ocean, along with the French-claimed sector of Antarctica, "Adelie Land"; the US does not recognize the French claim to "Adelie Land"

Map references

Antarctic Region

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm from Iles Kerguelen and Iles Eparses (does not include the rest of French Southern and Antarctic Lands); Juan de Nova Island and Tromelin Island claim a continental shelf of 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Natural hazards

Ile Amsterdam and Ile Saint-Paul are inactive volcanoes; Iles Eparses subject to periodic cyclones; Bassas da India is a maritime hazard since it is under water for a period of three hours prior to and following the high tide and surrounded by reefs

Natural resources

fish, crayfish note: Glorioso Islands and Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses) have guano, phosphates, and coconuts

Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses)

15 52 S, 54 25 E

total - 1 sq km; land - 1 sq km; water - 0 sq km note: excludes "Adelie Land" claim of about 500,000 sq km in Antarctica that is not recognized by the US

about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

3.7 km

low, flat, sandy; likely volcanic seamount

climatologically important location for forecasting cyclones in the western Indian Ocean; wildlife sanctuary (seabirds, tortoises)

Bassas da India (Iles Eparses)

uninhabitable Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses): a small French military garrison and a few meteorologists on each possession; visited by scientists

Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul)

has no permanent residents but has a meteorological station

Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul)

is uninhabited but is frequently visited by fishermen and has a scientific research cabin for short stays

Iles Crozet

are uninhabited except for 18 to 30 people staffing the Alfred Faure research station on Ile del la Possession

Iles Kerguelen

50 to 100 scientists are located at the main base at Port-aux-Francais on Ile Kerguelen

Population

no indigenous inhabitants

Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses)

uninhabited, except for visits by scientists

Administrative divisions

none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are five administrative districts named Iles Crozet, Iles Eparses, Iles Kerguelen, Ile Saint-Paul et Ile Amsterdam; the fifth district is the "Adelie Land" claim in Antarctica that is not recognized by the US

Country name

conventional long form: Territory of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands conventional short form: French Southern and Antarctic Lands local long form: Territoire des Terres Australes et Antarctiques Francaises local short form: Terres Australes et Antarctiques Francaises abbreviation: TAAF

Dependency status

overseas territory of France since 1955; administered from Paris by Administrateur Superieur Eric PILLOTON (since 10 April 2007)

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (overseas territory of France)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (overseas territory of France)

Executive branch

chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007), represented by Senior Administrator Rollon MOUCHEL-BLAISOT (16 October 2008)

Flag description

the flag of France is used

International organization participation

UPU

Legal system

the laws of France, where applicable, apply

Economy - overview

Economic activity is limited to servicing meteorological and geophysical research stations, military bases, and French and other fishing fleets. The fish catches landed on Iles Kerguelen by foreign ships are exported to France and Reunion.

Communications - note

one or more meteorological stations on each possession; note - meteorological station on Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses) is important for forecasting cyclones

Internet country code

.tf

Internet hosts

44 (2009) country comparison to the world: 210

Airports

4 (note - one each on Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island in the Iles Eparses district) (2006) country comparison to the world: 189

Ports and terminals

none; offshore anchorage only

Transportation - note

aids to navigation - lighthouses: Europa Island 18m; Juan de Nova Island (W side) 37m; Tromelin Island (NW point) 11m (all in the Iles Eparses district)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of France

Disputes - international

French claim to "Adelie Land" in Antarctica is not recognized by the US Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova

Island (Iles Eparses)

claimed by Madagascar

Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses)

claimed by Mauritius page last updated on October 28, 2009