Administrative divisions
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

Airports
none

Area
total: 7,829 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
water: 0 sq km
land: 7,829 sq km

Area - comparative
slightly less than 1.3 times the size of Delaware

Background
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.

Climate
antarctic

Coastline
1,232 km

Country name
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
overseas territory of France since 1955; administered from Paris by Administrateur Superieur Francois GARDE (since 24 May 2000), assisted by Secretary General Jean-Yves HERMOSO (since NA)

Diplomatic representation from the US
none (overseas territory of France)

Diplomatic representation in the US
none (overseas territory of France)

Disputes - international
French claim to "Adelie Land" in Antarctica is not recognized by the US

Economy - overview
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.

Elevation extremes
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Ross on Iles Kerguelen 1,850 m

Environment - current issues
NA

Flag description
the flag of France is used

Geographic coordinates
43 00 S, 67 00 E

Geography - note
islands component is widely scattered across remote locations in the southern Indian Ocean

Internet country code
.tf

Irrigated land
0 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries
0 km

Land use
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2001)

Legal system
the laws of France, where applicable, apply

Location
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
Antarctic Region

Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm from Iles Kerguelen (does not include the rest of French Southern and Antarctic Lands)

Merchant marine
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 (2003 est.)

Military - note
defense is the responsibility of France

Natural hazards
Ile Amsterdam and Ile Saint-Paul are extinct volcanoes

Natural resources
fish, crayfish

Population
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.)

Ports and harbors
none; offshore anchorage only

Terrain
volcanic