SubAntarctic Islands

          This islands lie between the Antarctic and Subtropical Convergences, away from the influence of the dry, cold Antarctic air masses. They have extremely equable climates. There is no substantial permanent snow or ice on these islands besides the Kerguelen Islands.

Kerguelen Islands
Macquarie Island

Kerguelen Islands

          This archipelago consist of one major island called Desolation Island and several minor ones. There are about 300 islets and rocks with a total area of 7215km². Inland the main feature is the numerous valleys and ridges with the highest point, the glaciated Mount Ross, reaching a height of 1850 m. . Ice covers about 10% of the island and the precipitation on 300 days a year combined with glacial meltwater keeps numerous streams and lakes full of water.

          Kerguelen was discovered in 1772 by a French navigator. In the 18th and 19th centuries the protected anchorages on the east coast were used by whaling and sealing vessels. With their slaughter, the sealers soon wiped out the giant colonies almost completely.

          A permanent meteorological station was established in 1951 so there is permanent occupation on Kerguelen Island. The whole archipelago is part of the French territory.

Macquarie Island

Map of Macquarie Island
          This square shaped island is 34km long and between 2.5 and 5 km wide. It is volcanic origin, but it isnít higher than 433m. The climate is wet and cold with an average temperature of 6.2°C and an average annual precipitation of 926mm. It rains snows or hails on 317 days of the year. It is also very windy because Macquarie lies within the zone of the west wind drift. The vegetation is similar to other subantarctic islands, it consist of grass, mosses and lichens.

          The islands was first sighted in 1810, soon afterwards sealer had their stations on this island. The elephant seal population was quickly reduced to the extent that the sealer hat to turn to king and royal penguins for oil. One breeding colony of king penguins was wiped out. Fur seals, slaughtered for their skins, were also exterminated in large numbers. The sealers also introduced animals like rats and mice, which disturb now the native fauna.

Macquarie Island
          Since 1948 there is a permanent scientific and meteorological station which monitors the populations of seal, penguins and albatrosses.

SubAntarctic Islands

Next chapter: Exploration