Plage de la Possession

Plage de la Possession is a sand beach along the Indian Ocean coast at approximately 49 degrees south latitude, offering direct access to waters in this remote location. The beach sits on French territory in the southern seas and serves research operations.

France established this beach location in the mid-20th century as part of maintaining presence in the southern seas. The French administration has used the area since then to secure its territorial claims in this remote region.

The beach primarily serves the scientific community, who work here to monitor marine life and collect data about the Southern Ocean environment. The few people present are mostly researchers and technical staff stationed for extended periods.

Visitors need special permits and must travel by authorized ship, since the beach is accessible only by sea. The journey is demanding and requires planning through specialized organizations.

The beach experiences a subantarctic climate where temperatures rarely exceed 10 degrees Celsius and strong winds from the Southern Ocean are frequent. These extreme conditions make it one of the least visited beaches anywhere.