|RConstitution:|N Republic. Part of Terres Australes et Antarctiques Francais (TAAF).
|RNature and climate:|N 1 large and 85 smaller islands and over 200 islets and rocks.
Reindeer, trout and sheep have been acclimatized. Seals of 2 tons are usual. There are blue whales, coal, peat and semiprecious stones.
|RPeople:|N The staff of the scientific research stations, 100 members, are the only inhabitants. They are replaced annually.
|REconomy:|N All inhabitants work at the research stations at Port-aux-Francais.
|RHistory:|N Discovered 1772 by Yves de Kerguelen, but was not effectively colonized by France until 1949. In 1950 the first scientific research station was built. Since then several research stations have been built especially at Port-aux-Francais.
