 | French Southern and Antarctic LandsOverseas territory of France |
Geography 
Economy 
Defense Forces
People 
Transportation 
Government
Communications 
History 
Travel
GEOGRAPHY
Location
Southern Africa, islands in the southern Indian Ocean, about equidistant between Africa, Antarctica, and Australia; note - "French Southern and Antarctic Lands" includes Ile Amsterdam, Ile Saint-Paul, Iles Crozet, and Iles Kerguelen in the southern Indian Ocean, along with the French-claimed sector of Antartica, "Terre Adelie" (=Adelie Land); the United States does not recognize the French claim to "Terre Adelie"
Area
- Total area: 7,781 sq km
- Land area: 7,781 sq km
- Comparative area: slightly less than 1.5 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
International Disputes
"Terre Adelie" claim in Antarctica is not recognized by the U.S.
Climate
Antarctic
Terrain
Volcanic
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Ross on Kerguelen 1,850 m
Natural Resources
Land Use
- Arable land: 0%
- Permanent crops: 0%
- Meadows and pastures: 0%
- Forest and woodland: 0%
- Other: 100%
Irrigated Land
0 sq km
Environment
- Current issues: NA
- Natural hazards: Ile Amsterdam and Ile Saint-Paul are extinct volcanoes
- International agreements: NA
Note: Remote location in the southern Indian Ocean
PEOPLE
Population
No indigenous inhabitants; note - there are researchers whose numbers vary from 145 in winter (July) to 200 in summer (January)
GOVERNMENT
Names
- 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
Digraph
FS
Type
Overseas territory of France since 1955; governed by High Administrator Christian DORS (since 4 December 1991)
Capital
None; administered from Paris, France
Administrative Divisions
None (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the U.S. Government, but there are 3 districts named Ile Crozet, Iles Kerguelen, and Iles Saint-Paul et Amsterdam; excludes "Terre Adelie" claim in Antarctica
Independence
None (overseas territory of France)
Flag
The flag of France is used
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.
Budget
- Revenues: $22.6 million (1995), $17.5 million (1992)
- Expenditures: NA (1995)
TRANSPORTATION
Highways
- Total: NA
- Paved: NA
- Unpaved: NA
Ports
None; offshore anchorage only
Merchant Marine
- Total: 66 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,133,942 GRT/3,617,863 DWT
- Ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 6, chemical tanker 7, container 10, liquefied gas tanker 4, multifunction large-load carrier 1, oil tanker 18, refrigerated cargo 4, roll-on/roll-off cargo 13, specialized tanker 1
Note: A subset of the French register allowing French-owned ships to operate under more liberal taxation and manning regulations than permissable under the main French register
Airports
None
COMMUNICATIONS
Telephone System
NA telephones
- Local: NA
- Intercity: NA
- International: NA
Radio
- Broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
- Radios: NA
Television
- Broadcast stations: NA
- Televisions: NA
DEFENSE FORCES
Note: Defense is the responsibility of France
History
World Atlas
Last updated: 27 november 1997
