Background: In February 2007 the Iles Eparses became an integral part of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF). The Southern Lands are now divided into five administrative districts two of which are archipelagos Iles Crozet and Iles Kerguelen; the third is a district composed of two volcanic islands Ile Saint-Paul and Ile Amsterdam; the fourth Iles Eparses consists of five scattered tropical islands around Madagascar. They contain no permanent inhabitants and are visited only by researchers studying the native fauna scientists at the various scientific stations fishermen and military personnel. The fifth district is the Antarctic portion which consists of 'Adelie Land' a thin slice of the Antarctic continent discovered and claimed by the French in 1840.
Ile Amsterdam: Discovered but not named in 1522 by the Spanish the island subsequently received the appellation of Nieuw Amsterdam from a Dutchman; it was claimed by France in 1843. A short-lived attempt at cattle farming began in 1871. A French meteorological station established on the island in 1949 is still in use.
Ile Saint Paul: Claimed by France since 1893 the island was a fishing industry center from 1843 to 1914. In 1928 a spiny lobster cannery was established but when the company went bankrupt in 1931 seven workers were abandoned. Only two survived until 1934 when rescue finally arrived.
Iles Crozet: A large archipelago formed from the Crozet Plateau Iles Crozet is divided into two main groups: L'Occidental which includes Ile aux Cochons Ilots des Apotres Ile des Pingouins and the reefs Brisants de l'Heroine; and L'Oriental (the East) which includes Ile d'Est and Ile de la Possession (the largest island of the Crozets). Discovered and claimed by France in 1772 the islands were used for seal hunting and as a base for whaling. Originally administered as a dependency of Madagascar they became part of the TAAF in 1955.
Iles Kerguelen: This island group discovered in 1772 consists of one large island and about 300 smaller islands. A permanent group of 50 to 100 scientists resides at the main base at Port-aux-Francais.
Adelie Land: The only non-insular district of the TAAF is the Antarctic claim known as 'Adelie Land.' The US Government does not recognize it as a French dependency.
Bassas da India: A French possession since 1897 this atoll is a volcanic rock surrounded by reefs and is awash at high tide.
Europa Island: This heavily wooded island has been a French possession since 1897; it is the site of a small military garrison that staffs a weather station.
Glorioso Islands: A French possession since 1892 the Glorioso Islands are composed of two lushly vegetated coral islands and three rock islets. A military garrison operates a weather and radio station on Ile Glorieuse.
Juan de Nova Island: Named after a famous 15th century Spanish navigator and explorer the island has been a French possession since 1897. It has been exploited for its guano and phosphate. Presently a small military garrison oversees a meteorological station.
Tromelin Island: First explored by the French in 1776 the island came under the jurisdiction of Reunion in 1814. At present it serves as a sea turtle sanctuary and is the site of an important meteorological station.

Geographic coordinates
Ile Amsterdam: 37 50 S 77 32 E
Ile SaintPaul: 38 72 S 77 53 E
Iles Crozet: 46 25 S 51 00 E
Iles Kerguelen: 49 15 S 69 35 E
Bassas da India: 21 30 S 39 50 E
Europa Island: 22 20 S 40 22 E
Glorioso Islands: 11 30 S 47 20 E
Juan de Nova Island: 17 03 S 42 45 E
Tromelin Island: 15 52 S 54 25 E

Map reference: Antarctic Region Africa

Area
Ile Amsterdam: total - 55 km²; land - 55 km²; water - 0 km²
Ile SaintPaul: total - 7 km²; land - 7 km²; water - 0 km²
Iles Crozet: total - 352 km²; land - 352 km²; water - 0 km²
Iles Kerguelen: total - 7,215 km²; land - 7,215 km²; water - 0 km²
Bassas da India: total - 80 km²; land - 0.2 km²; water - 79.8 km² (lagoon)
Europa Island: total - 28 km²; land - 28 km²; water - 0 km²
Glorioso Islands: total - 5 km²; land - 5 km²; water - 0 km²
Juan de Nova Island: total - 4.4 km²; land - 4.4 km²; water - 0 km²
Tromelin Island: total - 1 km²; land - 1 km²; water - 0 km²
Note: excludes 'Adelie Land' claim of about 500,000 km² in Antarctica that is not recognized by the US
Rank: 230
Comparative Ile Amsterdam: less than one-half the size of Washington DC
Comparative Ile SaintPaul: more than 10 times the size of The Mall in Washington DC
Comparative Iles Crozet: about twice the size of Washington DC
Comparative Iles Kerguelen: slightly larger than Delaware
Comparative Bassas da India: land area about one-third the size of The Mall in Washington DC
Comparative Europa Island: about one-sixth the size of Washington DC
Comparative Glorioso Islands: about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington DC
Comparative Juan de Nova Island: about seven times the size of The Mall in Washington DC
Comparative Tromelin Island: about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline
Ile Amsterdam: 28 km
Iles Kerguelen: 2,800 km
Bassas da India: 35.2 km
Europa Island: 22.2 km
Glorioso Islands: 35.2 km
Juan de Nova Island: 24.1 km
Tromelin Island: 3.7 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm from Iles Kerguelen and Iles Eparses ; Juan de Nova Island and Tromelin Island claim a continental shelf of 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate
Ile Amsterdam et Ile SaintPaul: oceanic with persistent westerly winds and high humidity
Iles Crozet: windy cold wet and cloudy
Iles Kerguelen: oceanic cold overcast windy
Iles Eparses: tropical

Terrain
Ile Amsterdam: a volcanic island with steep coastal cliffs; the center floor of the volcano is a large plateau
Ile SaintPaul: triangular in shape the island is the top of a volcano rocky with steep cliffs on the eastern side; has active thermal springs
Iles Crozet: a large archipelago formed from the Crozet Plateau is divided into two groups of islands
Iles Kerguelen: the interior of the large island of Ile Kerguelen is composed of high mountains hills valleys and plains with peninsulas stretching off its coasts
Bassas da India: atoll awash at high tide; shallow (15 m) lagoon
Europa Island Glorioso Islands Juan de Nova Island: low flat and sandy
Tromelin Island: low flat sandy; likely volcanic seamount

Elevation
Extremes lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
Extremes highest point: Mont de la Dives on Ile Amsterdam 867 m; unnamed location on Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul) 272 m; Pic Marion-Dufresne in Iles Crozet 1090 m; Mont Ross in Iles Kerguelen 1850 m; unnamed location on Bassas de India (Iles Eparses) 2.4 m; unnamed location on Europa Island (Iles Eparses) 24 m; unnamed location on Glorioso Islands (Iles Eparses) 12 m; unnamed location on Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses) 10 m; unnamed location on Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses) 7 m

Natural resources: fish crayfish
Note: Glorioso Islands and Tromelin Island have guano phosphates and coconuts

Irrigated land: 0 km² (2011)

Natural hazards: Ile Amsterdam and Ile Saint-Paul are inactive volcanoes; Iles Eparses subject to periodic cyclones; Bassas da India is a maritime hazard since it is under water for a period of three hours prior to and following the high tide and surrounded by reefs
Volcanism: Reunion Island - Piton de la Fournaise which has erupted many times in recent years including 2010 is one of the world's most active volcanoes; although rare eruptions outside the volcano's caldera could threaten nearby cities

Geography
Note: islands component is widely scattered across remote locations in the southern Indian Ocean
Note Bassas da India: the atoll is a circular reef that sits atop a long-extinct submerged volcano
Note Europa Island and Juan de Nova Island: wildlife sanctuary for seabirds and sea turtles
Note Glorioso Island: the islands and rocks are surrounded by an extensive reef system
Note Tromelin Island: climatologically important location for forecasting cyclones in the western Indian Ocean; wildlife sanctuary (seabirds tortoises)

Population: no indigenous inhabitants
Ile Amsterdam: has no permanent residents but has a meteorological station
Ile SaintPaul: is uninhabited but is frequently visited by fishermen and has a scientific research cabin for short stays
Iles Crozet: are uninhabited except for 18 to 30 people staffing the Alfred Faure research station on Ile del la Possession
Iles Kerguelen: 50 to 100 scientists are located at the main base at Port-aux-Francais on Ile Kerguelen
Bassas da India: uninhabitable
Europa Island Glorioso Islands Juan de Nova Island: a small French military garrison and a few meteorologists on each possession; visited by scientists
Tromelin Island: uninhabited except for visits by scientists

Environment
Current issues: introduction of foreign species on Iles Crozet has caused severe damage to the original ecosystem; overfishing of Patagonian toothfish around Iles Crozet and Iles Kerguelen

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
Abbreviation: TAAF

Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government but there are five administrative districts named Iles Crozet Iles Eparses Iles Kerguelen Ile Saint-Paul et Ile Amsterdam; the fifth district is the 'Adelie Land' claim in Antarctica that is not recognized by the US

Legal system: the laws of France where applicable apply

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Francois HOLLANDE represented by Senior Administrator Cecile POGGO DI BORGO (since 13 October 2014)

International organization participation: UPU

Diplomatic representation
In the us: none (overseas territory of France)
From the us: none (overseas territory of France)

Flag description: the flag of France is used

National anthem
Note: as a territory of France 'La Marseillaise' is official

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

Internet
Country code: .tf

Airports: 4; note - one each on Europa Island Glorioso Islands Juan de Nova Island and Tromelin Island in the Iles Eparses district (2013)
Rank: 191

Ports and terminals: none; offshore anchorage only

Disputes international: French claim to 'Adelie Land' in Antarctica is not recognized by the US; Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island: claimed by Madagascar; the vegetated drying cays of Banc du Geyser which were claimed by Madagascar in 1976 also fall within the EEZ claims of the Comoros and France (Glorioso Islands); Tromelin Island: claimed by Mauritius