Southeast and east of Africa, islands in the southern Indian Ocean, some near Madagascar and others about equidistant between Africa, Antarctica, and Australia; note - French Southern and Antarctic Lands include Ile Amsterdam, Ile Saint-Paul, Iles Crozet, Iles Kerguelen, Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island in the southern Indian Ocean, along with the French-claimed sector of Antarctica, "Adelie Land"; the US does not recognize the French claim to "Adelie Land"

Antarctic Region

Total - 55 sq km; land - 55 sq km; water - 0 sq km

Total - 7 sq km; land - 7 sq km; water - 0 sq km

Total - 352 sq km; land - 352 sq km; water - 0 sq km

Total - 7,215 sq km; land - 7,215 sq km; water - 0 sq km

Total - 80 sq km; land - 0.2 sq km; water - 79.8 sq km (lagoon)

Total - 28 sq km; land - 28 sq km; water - 0 sq km

Total - 5 sq km; land - 5 sq km; water - 0 sq km

Total - 4.4 sq km; land - 4.4 sq km; water - 0 sq km

Total - 1 sq km; land - 1 sq km; water - 0 sq km

Excludes "Adelie Land" claim of about 500,000 sq km in Antarctica that is not recognized by the US

Less than one-half the size of Washington, DC

More than 10 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

About twice the size of Washington, DC

Land area about one-third the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

About one-sixth the size of Washington, DC

About eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

About seven times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

About 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

200 nm from Iles Kerguelen and Iles Eparses (does not include the rest of French Southern and Antarctic Lands); Juan de Nova Island and Tromelin Island claim a continental shelf of 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Oceanic with persistent westerly winds and high humidity

A volcanic island with steep coastal cliffs; the center floor of the volcano is a large plateau

Triangular in shape, the island is the top of a volcano, rocky with steep cliffs on the eastern side; has active thermal springs

A large archipelago formed from the Crozet Plateau is divided into two groups of islands

The interior of the large island of Ile Kerguelen is composed of rugged terrain of high mountains, hills, valleys, and plains with a number of peninsulas stretching off its coasts

Atoll, awash at high tide; shallow (15 m) lagoon

Low, flat, sandy; likely volcanic seamount

Mont de la Dives on Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul) 867 m; unnamed location on Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul) 272 m; Pic Marion-Dufresne in Iles Crozet 1,090 m; Mont Ross in Iles Kerguelen 1,850 m; unnamed location on Bassas de India (Iles Eparses) 2.4 m; unnamed location on Europa Island (Iles Eparses) 24 m; unnamed location on Glorioso Islands (Iles Eparses) 12 m; unnamed location on Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses) 10 m; unnamed location on Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses) 7 m

Glorioso Islands and Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses) have guano, phosphates, and coconuts

Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul) - 100% trees, grasses, ferns, and moss; Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul) - 100% grass, ferns, and moss; Iles Crozet - 100% tossock grass, heath, and fern; Iles Kerguelen - 100% tossock grass and Kerguelen cabbage; Bassas da India (Iles Eparses) - 100% rock, coral reef, and sand; Europa Island (Iles Eparses) - 100% mangrove swamp and dry woodlands; Glorioso Islands (Iles Eparses) - 100% lush vegetation and coconut palms; Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses) - 90% forest, 10% other; Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses) - 100% grasses and scattered brush (2005)

Ile Amsterdam and Ile Saint-Paul are inactive volcanoes; Iles Eparses subject to periodic cyclones; Bassas da India is a maritime hazard since it is under water for a period of three hours prior to and following the high tide and surrounded by reefs

Reunion Island - Piton de la Fournaise (elev. 2,632 m, ), which has erupted many times in recent years including 2010, is one of the world's most active volcanoes; although rare, eruptions outside the volcano's caldera could threaten nearby cities

Introduction of foreign species on Iles Crozet has caused severe damage to the original ecosystem; overfishing of Patagonian toothfish around Iles Crozet and Iles Kerguelen

Islands component is widely scattered across remote locations in the southern Indian Ocean

The atoll is a circular reef that sits atop a long-extinct, submerged volcano

Wildlife sanctuary for seabirds and sea turtles

The islands and rocks are surrounded by an extensive reef system

Climatologically important location for forecasting cyclones in the western Indian Ocean; wildlife sanctuary (seabirds, tortoises)