The French Southern Territories, officially known as the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (Terres australes et antarctiques françaises, TAAF), comprise a scattered group of islands and territories in the southern Indian Ocean and Antarctica, including the Kerguelen Islands, Crozet Islands, Amsterdam and Saint Paul Islands, as well as the uninhabited Adélie Land on the Antarctic continent. These remote territories, administered from Réunion, have never had a permanent civilian population, with their history mainly characterized by exploration, scientific research, and resource exploitation. First discovered by European navigators between the 17th and 19th centuries, the islands were successively claimed and officially declared French possessions in the late 19th century. Historically, they have served as important bases for scientific expeditions, meteorological research, and fishing activities, and remain ecologically significant due to their unique wildlife and status as protected nature reserves. Today, the French Southern Territories are governed as an overseas territory of France, and are recognized for their vital role in supporting meteorological and biological research in the sub-Antarctic region.