French Southern and Antarctic Lands

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Flag
Image:fs-flag.png
Quick Facts
Capital
Government
Currency
Areatotal: 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
Populationno indigenous inhabitants (July 2002 est.)
note: in 2002, there were 145 researchers whose numbers vary from winter (July) to summer (January)
Language
Religion

This article is an import from the CIA World Factbook 2002. It's a starting point for creating a real Imakoopedia country article according to our country article template. Please plunge forward and edit it.

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.


Table of contents

Geography

Image:fs-map.png
Map of French Southern and Antarctic Lands
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"
Geographic coordinates 
43 00 S, 67 00 E
Map references 
Antarctic Region
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
Land boundaries 
0 km
Coastline 
1,232 km
Maritime claims 
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM from Iles Kerguelen only
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate 
antarctic
Terrain 
volcanic
Elevation extremes 
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Ross on Iles Kerguelen 1,850 m
Natural resources 
fish, crayfish
Land use 
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land 
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards 
Ile Amsterdam and Ile Saint-Paul are extinct volcanoes
Environment - current issues 
NA
Geography - note 
islands component is widely scattered across remote locations in the southern Indian Ocean

People

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

Government

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)
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
Legal system 
the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Diplomatic representation in the US 
none (overseas territory of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US 
none (overseas territory of France)
Flag description 
the flag of France is used

Economy

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.

Communications

Internet country code 
.tf

Transportation

Waterways 
none
Ports and harbors 
none; offshore anchorage only
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.)
Airports 
none (2001)

Military

Military - note 
defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues

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