Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
French Southern and Antarctic Lands
open-in-new
<p>The French Southern and Antarctic Lands is an <a href="/facts/Overseas_territory_(France)/tJp1A2Dl">overseas territory</a> (<a href="/facts/French_language/qe1DnaQh">French</a>: <i>Territoire d'outre-mer</i> or <i>TOM</i>) of <a href="/facts/France/CxIeIKM3">France</a>. It consists of: </p> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Ad%25C3%25A9lie_Land/3KqLq28A">Adélie Land</a> (<i>Terre Adélie</i>), the French claim on the continent of <a href="/facts/Antarctica/bEM5Lem5">Antarctica</a>.</li> <li><a href="/facts/Crozet_Islands/pQV5djnP">Crozet Islands</a> (<i>Îles Crozet</i>), a group in the southern Indian Ocean, south of Madagascar.</li> <li><a href="/facts/Kerguelen_Islands/w3rpWVNf">Kerguelen Islands</a> (<i>Archipel des Kerguelen</i>), a group of <a href="/facts/Volcanic_island/uD8BN9K7">volcanic islands</a> in the southern <a href="/facts/Indian_Ocean/Kv0crwKG">Indian Ocean</a>, southeast of <a href="/facts/Africa/XkqQUP9s">Africa</a> and southwest of <a href="/facts/Australia_(continent)/moNlN1Qk">Australia</a>.</li> <li><a href="/facts/Saint_Paul_and_Amsterdam_Islands/s7UMH3x4">Saint Paul and Amsterdam Islands</a> (<i>Îles Saint Paul et Amsterdam</i>), a group to the north of the Kerguelen Islands.</li> <li><a href="/facts/Scattered_Islands_in_the_Indian_Ocean/f5hFUnYC">Scattered Islands</a> (<i>Îles Éparses</i>), a dispersed group of islands around the coast of <a href="/facts/Madagascar/ez12IAcY">Madagascar</a>.</li></ul> <p>The territory is sometimes referred to as the French Southern Lands (<a href="/facts/French_language/qe1DnaQh">French</a>: <i>Terres australes françaises</i>) or the French Southern Territories, usually to emphasize non-recognition of French <a href="/facts/Sovereignty/QnYhTTem">sovereignty</a> over <a href="/facts/Ad%25C3%25A9lie_Land/3KqLq28A">Adélie Land</a> as part of the <a href="/facts/Antarctic_Treaty_System/huNS5BLE">Antarctic Treaty System</a>. </p><p>The entire territory has no known permanently settled inhabitants. Approximately 150 (in the winter) to 310 (in the summer) people are usually present in the French Southern and Antarctic Lands at any time, but they are mainly made up of military personnel, officials, scientific researchers and support staff. </p><p>On 5 July 2019, the <a href="/facts/Crozet_Islands/pQV5djnP">Crozet Islands</a>, the <a href="/facts/Kerguelen_Islands/w3rpWVNf">Kerguelen Islands</a>, and the <a href="/facts/Saint_Paul_and_Amsterdam_Islands/s7UMH3x4">Saint Paul and Amsterdam Islands</a> were inscribed as a <a href="/facts/UNESCO/QSbkRv3o">UNESCO</a> <a href="/facts/World_Heritage_Site/6AbWWKV4">World Heritage Site</a> as the "French Austral Lands and Seas" because of their pristine wilderness, biodiversity, and enormous bird colonies. </p><p>Although the region's capital is based in <a href="/facts/R%25C3%25A9union/8088YvSY">Réunion</a>, this island is a member of the <a href="/facts/Overseas_departments_and_regions_of_France/SosQ94H2">Overseas departments and regions of France</a>, and should not be confused with the overseas territories. </p>