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.

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 1,232 km

Maritime claims: Contiguous zone; 12 nm Continental shelf; 200 meters or to depth of exploration; Extended economic zone 200 nm; Territorial sea 12 nm

Climate: antarctic

Terrain: volcanic

Natural resources: fish, crayfish

Land use: 0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 0% meadows and pastures; 0% forest and woodland; 100% other

Geography
Note: located in the southern Indian Ocean about equidistant between Africa, Antarctica, and Australia

Population: 210 (July 1989), growth rate 0.00% (1989; mostly researchers

Environment
Current issues: Ile Amsterdam and Ile Saint-Paul are extinct volcanoes

Country name: conventional long form: Territory of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands

Government type: overseas territory of France

Executive branch: Chief of State--President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981; Head of Government--High Administrator Claude CORBIER (since NA 1988)

Flag description: 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 fishing catches landed on Kerguelin Archipelago by foreign ships are exported to France and Reunion.

Disputes international: claim in Antarctica (Terre Adelie) not recognized by the US