The Iles Crozet lie between the parallels of 45°57'S and 46°30'S, and between the meridians of 50°10'Eand 52°20'E. The archipelago is composited of two groups of volcanic islands about 50 miles apart. The west group consists of one main island, Ile aux Cochons, and two small groups, Isles des Apotres and Iles des Pinguins. The east group consists of Ile de la Possession and Ile de l'Est. The island became a Frech procession in 1924. There is a permanet maned station on Ile de la Posession, all others are uninhabited. Base Alfred Faure is located on a tableland near the north eastern end, and is permanent inhabited by about 40 people.

Geoplogy: The islands are steep-sided and located on a common submerged tableland, with depth of 150 to 300 meters. The islands are of volcanic origin and of black colour. As between the islands, as in the vicinity round 70 miles off, are several not mapped dangers, as large fields of kelp, or submerged rocks and reefs. Also there is a stong seismic activity in this area, as the France scientific station sayed. The highest point is Mount Marion and rises to 1100 meters.

Flora & Fauna: Flora on the islands is very poor. only spare Kerguele grass, and some kinds of moos and several small flat plants are found there. Very rich is the Fauna. All kinds of penguines, albatrosses and scales are found, and too also great colonies of sealioms and other kinds are observed. On Iles aux Cochons were found several rabbits as on some other islands. This rabbits were brought by the seals hunters in the mid of the last century.

The group of islands was discovered in 1772 by M.Marion-Dufresne, who landed on several islands and reported them to be uninhabited. He named the western Group Ile dela Froides and the eastern one Ile Aride. The today know names were given by J.Cook in 1772 in honorol to Captain Crozet, the murder of Marion-Dufresne. Between 1805 and 1874 the islands became home of whalers and several stations were build up into the group, all abandoned today.

THE ISLANDS:

THE WESTERN GROUP

ILE AUX COCHONS (46°09'S, 50°15'E) is the most important island in the western group. The coastline is mostly irregular of shape and the Mont Richard-Foy rises to an elevation of 775 meters. Cape Verdoyant is the east extremity of the island. In its vicinity is an abandoned whaling station and a partly maned scientific station (permanently maned between 1970 and 1973).

ILES LES CINQ GEANTS (46°04'S, 50°16'E) is a group of several conical rocks, up to 34 meters, located close offshore the northeast extremity of Ile aux Cochons, near the only save anchorage point offshore Cape de la Deception, the north eastern point of Cochons.

ROCHERS DE LA MEURTHE (46°14'S, 50°15'E) is a group of two major rocks, 2 and 5 meters in elevation, located 6 miles south of Pointe de Sud, the south extremity of Cochons. Several submerged rocks are located in its vicinity. The sea breaks all the time over the rocks.

ILES DES PINGOUINS (46°28'S, 50°20'E) lies 18 miels south-south-east of Ile aux Cochons. The principal island is composed of barren volcanic rick, it is 360 meters high and quite inaccessible. The cliffs on the north and west sides resembling the vertical walls of a fortessa. In the south of the island is a small abandoned whaling settlement. Anchorage is difficult and dangerous.

ROCHER DE L'ARCHE (46°27'S, 50°18'E) is a 76 meter high conical rock, located close offshore the north- west of the principal island of the Pingouins.

ILE LES APOTRES (45°58'S, 50°26'E) consits of 12 bigger islands and about 40 islets and rocks, located on an east to west direction. Landing is only posible on Ile Grande, in calm weather. A abandoned scientific station is located on Ile Grande. GRANDE ILE APOTRES is the most porminent islet. It rises to an elevation of 289 meters and is located 8.5 miles north-east of Cochons. PETITE ILE, lies close south-west of Grande Ile is about 0.5 miles long and about 250 meters high. LE DONJON is a group of seven small islets. The most biggest rise to an elevation of 228 meters. ROCHER NORD, a detached rock, 116 meter high, stands 0.5 miles north of Ile Grande.

EASTERN GROUP

ILE DE LA PROCESSION (46°28'S, 51°44'E) is the bigges island of the complete group. It's coastline is irregular and cliffy. Pic du Mascarin is the highest montain on the island and rises to an elevation of 934 meters. Cap de l'Heronie, is the most western point of it and it lies about 58 miles east-south-east of the Western Group. Landing is on several points possible. The best know anchorage is posible in Port Alfred on the north-east side of the island. In its vicinity in 1964 a scientific station was established, permanently maned till 1974 and now since 1990. Here is a nursery and a doctors station.

ILE DE L'EST (46°23'S, 52°12'E) is the most eastern island and Mount Marion in its centre rises up to 1100 meters. The volcano is till today active. there are several hot springs on the island. There are also several water- falls and natural water is in some small lakes. There is a abandoned whaling station and an also abandoned scientific station on the south coast, but landing is only possible in the north- east of the island.