Crozet Islands
Crozet Islands
a group of rocky volcanic islands in the southern Indian Ocean (46°S lat. and 50°–52°E long.), located on the underwater Crozet Plateau. The Crozet Islands belong to France. Area, more than 300 sq km. The largest island is He de la Possession (area, approximately 150 sq km). The islands are composed primarily of basalts; elevation reaches 954 m (He de la Possession). The Crozets were discovered in 1772 by the French expedition of N. Marion Dufresne and were named after an officer on one of the ships. The French founded Port Alfred scientific station on He de la Possession in 1962 to make systematic meteorological and geophysical observations.