French Southern and Antarctic Lands

The French Southern and Antarctic Lands include Kerguelen Islands, Crozet Islands, Amsterdam Island, and Saint Paul Island, spanning across the southern Indian Ocean.

Following their separation from Madagascar in 1955, these territories became an independent administrative division managed by French authorities based in Paris and Reunion.

Scientific research stations across the territory conduct studies in climatology, marine biology, and environmental monitoring, contributing to global understanding of polar regions.

The territory maintains no permanent residents, with presence limited to rotating scientific personnel, military staff, and administrative officials at research stations.

The territory encompasses multiple time zones from UTC+04:00 to UTC+10:00, reflecting its vast geographical spread across the southern Indian Ocean.

Location: France

Location: South Indian Ocean Defense and Security Zone

Inception: August 6, 1955

Capital city: Port-aux-Français

Part of: Overseas France

Website: https://taaf.fr/en

GPS coordinates: -44.15118,63.86046

Latest update: May 27, 2025 20:11