Île de la Possession
Nickname: Possession Island | |
|---|---|
Interactive map of Île de la Possession | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Indian Ocean |
| Coordinates | 46°24′27″S 51°45′27″E / 46.40750°S 51.75750°E |
| Archipelago | Crozet Islands |
| Area | 150 km2 (58 sq mi) |
| Length | 18 km (11.2 mi) |
| Width | 13 km (8.1 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 934 m (3064 ft) |
| Highest point | Pic du Mascarin |
| Administration | |
France | |
| Demographics | |
| Population | No permanent inhabitants; temporary research station staff only |
Île de la Possession (French pronunciation: [il də la pɔsɛsjɔ̃]), or Possession Island, formerly Île de la Prise de Possession, is part of the Subantarctic Crozet Archipelago. Administratively, it is part of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands. It is in the eastern group of the archipelago, about 17 kilometres (11 mi) west of Île de l'Est (East Island). The highest point is at Pic du Mascarin in the southern central part of the island at 828 metres (2,717 ft), rising above Lac Perdu.
Île de la Possession is an important nesting site for seabirds. In January 1841 the Ross expedition anchored near the island. The island contains the Alfred Faure research station.