Île Amsterdam
Island in the southern Indian Ocean / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Île Amsterdam (French pronunciation: [ilamstɛʁdam]), also known as Amsterdam Island and New Amsterdam (Nouvelle-Amsterdam), is an island of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands in the southern Indian Ocean that together with neighbouring Île Saint-Paul 90 km (49 nautical miles) to the south forms one of the five districts of the territory.
Amsterdam Island (New Amsterdam) | |
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Flag | |
Motto: "Liberté, égalité, fraternité" | |
Anthem: La Marseillaise | |
Government | District of French Southern and Antarctic Lands |
Nickname: Nouvelle Amsterdam | |
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Geography | |
Coordinates | 37°50′S 77°33′E |
Area | 55 km2 (21 sq mi) |
Length | 10 km (6 mi) |
Width | 7 km (4.3 mi) |
Highest elevation | 867 m (2844 ft) |
Highest point | Mont de la Dives |
Administration | |
Demographics | |
Population | 28 |
The island is roughly equidistant to the land masses of Madagascar, Australia, and Antarctica – as well as the British Indian Ocean Territory and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands (about 3,200 km; 1,700 nautical miles from each). It is the northernmost volcanic island within the Antarctic Plate.[1]
The research station at Martin-de-Viviès, first called Camp Heurtin and then La Roche Godon, is the only settlement on the island and is the seasonal home to about thirty researchers and staff studying biology, meteorology, and geomagnetics.[2]