BBS/frenchso
| File Name: | frenchso.txt |
|---|---|
| Author: | Unknown |
| Date: | Unknown |
| Posting BBS: | Unknown |
| Key Words: | Politics |
| Case File: | Antarctica Main Page |
FRENCH SOUTHERN AND ANTARCTIC LANDS
(overseas territory of France)
GEOGRAPHY Total area: 7,781 km2; land area: 7,781 km2; includes Ile Amsterdam, Ile Saint-Paul, Iles Kerguelen, and Iles Crozet; excludes Terre Adelie claim of about 500,000 km2 in Antarctica that is not recognized by the US
Comparative area: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of Delaware
Land boundaries: none
Coastline: 1,232 km
Maritime claims:
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm (Iles Kerguelen only);
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Disputes: Terre Adelie claim in Antarctica is not recognized by the US
Climate: antarctic
Terrain: volcanic
Natural resources: fish, crayfish
Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100%
Environment: Ile Amsterdam and Ile Saint-Paul are extinct volcanoes
Note: located in the southern Indian Ocean about equidistant between Africa, Antarctica, and Australia
PEOPLE Population: summer (January 1991)--180, winter (July 1991)--150, growth rate 0.0% (1991); note--mostly researchers
GOVERNMENT Long-form name: Territory of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Type: overseas territory of France since 1955; governed by High Administrator Bernard de GOUTTES (since NA May 1990), who is assisted by a 7-member Consultative Council and a 12-member Scientific Council
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 Terre Adelie claim in Antarctica that is not recognized by the US
Flag: the flag of France is used
ECONOMY Overview: Economic activity is limited to servicing meteorological and geophysical research stations and French and other fishing fleets. The fishing catches landed on Iles Kerguelen by foreign ships are exported to France and Reunion.
Budget: $33.6 million (1990)
COMMUNICATIONS Ports: none; offshore anchorage only
Merchant marine: 12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 220,392 GRT/350,131 DWT; includes 2 cargo, 3 refrigerated cargo, 2 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 1 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 2 liquefied gas, 2 bulk; note--a captive subset of the French register
Telecommunications: NA
DEFENSE FORCES Branches: French Forces (including Army, Navy, Air Force)
Note: defense is the responsibility of France
