Crozet Islands, Volcanic archipelago in southern Indian Ocean, France.
The Crozet Islands lie in the southern Indian Ocean and form an archipelago of six main islands spread across roughly 505 square kilometers, divided into western and eastern clusters. The landscape rises from steep coastal cliffs to dormant volcanic peaks covered in tussock grass and moss.
French navigator Marc-Joseph Marion du Fresne sighted the islands in 1772 during an expedition into southern waters. His second-in-command Julien-Marie Crozet returned after the explorer's death and secured the territory for France.
The Alfred Faure research station on Île de la Possession maintains French scientific presence through meteorological studies and biological research programs.
The supply vessel Marion Dufresne provides the sole link to the archipelago several times a year, transporting scientists and materials for the research station. The crossing takes several days and depends on weather conditions in the southern Indian Ocean.
Roughly half of all king penguins in the world breed on these remote islands, forming large colonies along the shorelines. The weather station on Île de la Possession has recorded measurements every three hours since 1974, providing important climate data for the southern hemisphere.
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