ARCHIVE // TF // 2004

French Southern and Antarctic Lands

2004 Edition — territory

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Communications
Internet country code [time series]
.tf
Economy
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
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.
Geography
Area [time series]
total: 7,829 sq km land: 7,829 sq km water: 0 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
Area - comparative [time series]
slightly less than 1.3 times the size of Delaware
Climate [time series]
antarctic
Coastline [time series]
1,232 km
Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Ross on Iles Kerguelen 1,850 m
Environment - current issues [time series]
NA
Geographic coordinates [time series]
43 00 S, 67 00 E
Geography - note [time series]
islands component is widely scattered across remote locations in the southern Indian Ocean
Irrigated land [time series]
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2001)
Location [time series]
southeast 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"
Map references [time series]
Antarctic Region
Maritime claims [time series]
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm from Iles Kerguelen (does not include the rest of French Southern and Antarctic Lands)
Natural hazards [time series]
Ile Amsterdam and Ile Saint-Paul are extinct volcanoes
Natural resources [time series]
fish, crayfish
Terrain [time series]
volcanic
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
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
Country name [time series]
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 [time series]
overseas territory of France since 1955; administered from Paris by Administrateur Superieur Michel CHAMPON (since 20 December 2004), assisted by Secretary General Jean-Yves HERMOSO (since NA)
Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]
none (overseas territory of France)
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
none (overseas territory of France)
Flag (Flag description) [time series]
the flag of France is used
Legal system [time series]
the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Introduction
Background [time series]
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.
Military
Military - note [time series]
defense is the responsibility of France
People
Population [time series]
no indigenous inhabitants (July 2002 est.) note: in 2002, there were 145 researchers whose numbers vary from winter (July) to summer (January) (July 2004 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
French claim to "Adelie Land" in Antarctica is not recognized by the US
Transportation
Airports [time series]
none
Merchant marine [time series]
total: 70 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 3,092,387 GRT/5,056,658 DWT by type: bulk 4, cargo 2, chemical tanker 19, container 11, liquefied gas 7, petroleum tanker 14, roll on/roll off 11, vehicle carrier 2 foreign-owned: Denmark 2, France 49, Japan 4, Monaco 5, Norway 5, Sweden 5 (2004 est.)
Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]
none; offshore anchorage only