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
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm (Iles Kerguelen only)
Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: antarctic

Terrain: volcanic

Natural resources: fish, crayfish

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

Geography
Note: defense is the responsibility of France

Population: summer (January 1991)--180, winter (July 1991)--150, growth rate 0.0% (1991; note--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 since 1955; governed by High Administrator Bernard de GOUTTES (since NA May 1990), who is assisted by a 7-member Consultative Council and a 12-member Scientific Council

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 Terre Adelie claim in Antarctica that is not recognized by the US

Legislative branch: French Forces (including Army, Navy, Air Force)

Flag description: the flag of France is used French Southern and Antarctic Lands French Southern and Antarctic LandsFrench Southern and Antarctic Lands

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

Budget: $33.6 million (1990)

Merchant marine: 12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 220,392 GRT/350,131 DWT; includes 2 cargo, 3 refrigerated cargo, 2 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 1 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 2 liquefied gas, 2 bulk; note--a captive subset of the French register

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