🏔️ French Austral Lands and Seas -- Kerguelen Islands
Sub-Antarctic archipelago in the Southern Indian Ocean with exceptional ecological and scientific value
📌 Fast Facts
- Location: Southern Indian Ocean, 3,300 km southeast of Africa
- Area: Approximately 7,215 square kilometres
- Climate: Sub-Antarctic with mean annual temperature of −1.5°C
- UNESCO inscription: 2019
The Kerguelen Islands are a sub-Antarctic archipelago in the Southern Indian Ocean that function as a global research station for polar science and climate monitoring. The islands were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019 in recognition of their exceptional ecological value and role as a critical facility for understanding polar environments and climate change effects. As of 2026, the archipelago remains among Earth's most isolated inhabited landmasses, accessible only by ship and ...