The French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Sometimes referred to as the French Southern Lands, they consist of the Kerguelen Islands, a group of volcanic islands in the southern Indian Ocean, southeast of Africa, approximately equidistant between Africa, Antarctica and Australia; St. Paul and Amsterdam islands, a group to the north of Kerguelen; Crozet Islands, a group in the southern Indian Ocean, south of Madagascar and the Scattered Islands (Îles Éparses), a dispersed group of islands around the coast of Madagascar. They remain under the control of the office of the prefect in charge of Southern Lands and arctic lands.
Approximately 150 to 310 people live in the French Southern and Antarctic Lands but they are only military personnel, officials, scientific researchers and support staff. The territory has legally no permanent civilian population.
