World Heritage Identification Number: 1603
World Heritage since: 2019
Category: Natural Heritage
Transboundary Heritage: No
Endangered Heritage: No
Country: 🇫🇷 France
Continent: Europe
UNESCO World Region: Europe and North America
Map
French Austral Lands and Seas: A Biodiversity Haven in the Southern Ocean
The French Austral Lands and Seas (FALS) is an extraordinary expanse of land and sea located in the remote southern Indian Ocean. Comprising several archipelagos and isolated islands, this UNESCO World Heritage Site encompasses over 166 million hectares, making it one of the largest territories under French sovereignty.
More to come…UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site
The French Austral Lands and Seas comprise the largest of the rare emerged landmasses in the southern Indian Ocean: the Crozet Archipelago, the Kerguelen Islands, Saint-Paul and Amsterdam Islands as well as 60 small sub-Antarctic islands. This ‘oasis’ in the middle of the Southern Ocean covers an area of more than 166 million ha and supports one of the highest concentrations of birds and marine mammals in the world. In particular, it has the largest population of King Penguins and Yellow-nosed albatrosses in the world. The remoteness of these islands from centres of human activity makes them extremely well-preserved showcases of biological evolution and a unique terrain for scientific research.
Encyclopedia Record: French Southern and Antarctic Lands
The French Southern and Antarctic Lands is an overseas territory of France.Additional Site Details
Area: 166,267,100 hectares
(ix) — Outstanding example representing ecological and biological processes
(x) — Contains most important habitats for biodiversity
Coordinates: -49.3803611111 , 69.3528055556
Image
© Nelly Gravier. Used with permission.
