🌋 French Austral Lands and Seas — Saint Paul and Amsterdam Islands
Remote volcanic islands in the southern Indian Ocean, part of France's overseas territories
📌 Fast Facts
- Location: Southern Indian Ocean, 85 kilometres apart
- Territory: Part of France's Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF)
- Geology: Extinct volcanic islands with basaltic formations
- UNESCO inscription: 2019
Saint Paul and Amsterdam Islands are extinct volcanic outcrops in the southern Indian Ocean located between Africa and Australia. The islands were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019 in recognition of their exceptional biodiversity and ecological significance within a marine environment of global importance. As of 2026, both islands remain under strict protection with no permanent human settlement and visitation restricted to authorized scientific expeditions only ...