Mont des Manchots, Volcanic summit on Penguin Island, Crozet Islands, France.
Mont des Manchots is a volcanic summit on Penguin Island in the Crozet Islands, rising about 340 meters above sea level with steep slopes of volcanic rock. The landscape clearly shows the geological forces that shaped this southern island group over thousands of years.
The island was discovered in 1772 by French sailor Marc-Joseph Marion du Fresne during his exploration of the southern oceans. The island group later became part of French territory and now serves scientific research in this remote ocean region.
The mountain forms part of a protected space where French researchers study the animal and plant life of the sub-Antarctic region. The research station here tracks how the local ecosystems change through natural processes.
Access to this area is strictly controlled because the Crozet Islands are a protected nature reserve and can only be visited with official permission. Visitors must coordinate with French authorities before traveling to gain entry.
Despite its height of only 340 meters, the peak is a major nesting site for over one million macaroni penguins, which inhabit the slopes in large groups. These massive colony gatherings make it one of the most densely populated bird areas in the southern hemisphere.
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