These islands are remote and isolated, but by no means a freezing polar land. They lay on the middle of the Indian ocean, north of the also french Kerguelen Islands, at a latitude similar to Melbourne is Australia, or Bahia Blanca in Argentina.
They are St. Paul and Amsterdam Islands, part of the Overseas Territories of France. Rarely visited or mentioned, the islands are remarkable for their nature and location.
Both islands are of volcanic origin, though the last eruption dates back to 1792. The Islands have a mild oceanic climate and are partially covered with grass.
They are over 80 km far from each other, and the climat is mildly oceanic (above zero), with constant strong winds prevailing from the west. Amsterdam is by far the largest of the two islands.
As they are sub-antarctic territory - located north of the antarctic convergence line where the warm waters of the Indian Ocean separate from the colder Austral Ocean waters - there is no snowfall nor icecap on the islands.
Amsterdam Island
Coordinates: 37° 47′ S, 77° 34′ E
Dimensions: - ca. 10 km x 7 km,
- max high 881 m
With and area of 55 km2, Amsterdam Island varies from steep cliffs on the west coast to a gentle slope in the north and a green downhill on the east side. A high plateau around 700 m is the main volcanic site, eoth a large crater and sone hill tops; other smaller craters are scattered around.
The island's top plateau, les Tourbières, is surrounded by two hilltops and a volcanic crater.
Only in Amsterdam Island can be found a shrub - almost a tree - called Phylica arborea, mainly on the east slope.
The Phylica tree became an emblematic mark of the territory, and is carefully kept and protected.
At present the "Grand Bois" (The Large Woods) is the only remnant of Phylica forest, a preserved natural area which has been fenced and bordered by cypresses for protection.
Martin-de-Viviès
The french base lies on the north coast of Amsterdam Island, spreading down a gentle slope, 100 m up from the sea.
The base was renamed after Paul Martin de Viviès who spent the winter of 1949 on the island, exploring, describing and mapping.
MDV is the only inhabitated place on the islands, a permanently occupied settlement since 1949, with rotating teams of 23 to 35 experts, techniciens and support personnel.
At Viviès, buildings are named after the local bird fauna - Stern, Albatross, Skua...
Plantations must be protected from the winds; climat in Martin de Viviès is smoothly temperated (-10º to 20º C) but extremely windy.
Forming a slight ascending slope to the south, it is constituted of an ancestral and rash concrete, cut by deep rifts drawn by time and bad weather.
La Cabane Antonelli
Antonelli is a small crater on the northern section, with a small Phylica woods, where a panoramic cabin was built mainly as a depart point and shelter when teams go walking around the island.
This might well be the start of a tourist route...
The research ship "Marion Dufresne II" visits the base every two months.
Her arrival is welcome as the only way in and out of the islands.
Useful Links:
disams62.over-blog.com/page-3751469.html
https://isabellesursoncaillou.wordpress.com/
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Next: the island of St. Paul
