French Southern and Antarctic Lands

Internet country code

.tf

Economy - overview

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

Area

total: 7,829 sq km note: includes Ile Amsterdam, Ile Saint-Paul, Iles Crozet and Iles Kerguelen; excludes "Adelie Land" claim of about 500,000 sq km in Antarctica that is not recognized by the US water: 0 sq km land: 7,829 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly less than 1.3 times the size of Delaware

Climate

antarctic

Coastline

1,232 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Ross on Iles Kerguelen 1,850 m

Environment - current issues

NA

Geographic coordinates

43 00 S, 67 00 E

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

0 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (1998 est.)

Location

south of Africa, islands in the southern Indian Ocean, about equidistant between Africa, Antarctica, and Australia; note - French Southern and Antarctic Lands include Ile Amsterdam, Ile Saint-Paul, Iles Crozet, and Iles Kerguelen 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

exclusive economic zone: 200 NM from Iles Kerguelen only territorial sea: 12 NM

Natural hazards

Ile Amsterdam and Ile Saint-Paul are extinct volcanoes

Natural resources

fish, crayfish

Terrain

volcanic

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 "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

Dependency status

overseas territory of France since 1955; administered from Paris by Administrateur Superieur Francois GARDE (since 24 May 2000), assisted by Secretary General Jean-Yves HERMOSO (since NA)

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (overseas territory of France)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (overseas territory of France)

Flag description

the flag of France is used

Legal system

the laws of France, where applicable, apply

Background

The Southern Lands consist of two archipelagos, Iles Crozet and Iles Kerguelen, and two volcanic islands, Ile Amsterdam and Ile Saint-Paul. They contain no permanent inhabitants and are visited only by researchers studying the native fauna. The Antarctic portion consists of "Adelie Land," a thin slice of the Antarctic continent discovered and claimed by the French in 1840.

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of France

Population

no indigenous inhabitants (July 2002 est.) note: in 2002, there were 145 researchers whose numbers vary from winter (July) to summer (January)

Disputes - international

"Adelie Land" claim in Antarctica is not recognized by the US

Airports

none (2001)

Merchant marine

total: 71 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,815,472 GRT/4,806,161 DWT ships by type: bulk 5, cargo 5, chemical tanker 13, container 11, liquefied gas 7, petroleum tanker 19, roll on/roll off 11 note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Belgium 2, France 62, Japan 3, Monaco 1, Norway 5, Sweden 1 (2002 est.)

Ports and harbors

none; offshore anchorage only

Waterways

none