Adélie Land facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Adélie Land
Terre Adélie
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 Flag
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Motto: "Liberté, égalité, fraternité"
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Anthem: La Marseillaise
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| Official languages | French |
| Government | |
| Emmanuel Macron | |
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• Administrator
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Cécile Pozzo di Borgo |
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• Head of District
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François Grosvalet |
| French overseas territory | |
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• Coastline discovered
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1840 |
| Area | |
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• Total
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432,000 km2 (167,000 sq mi) |
| Population | |
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• Estimate
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around 33 (winter) < 80 (summer) |
| Currency | Euro (EUR) |
| Time zone | UTC+10 |
| Calling code | +262 262 00 2 |
| Internet TLD | .tf |
Adélie Land (which in French is called Terre Adélie) is a part of Antarctica. France claims this land as its own territory. It stretches from the Great Southern Ocean all the way inland to the South Pole. This icy land was named after Adèle Dumont d'Urville, who was the wife of a famous French explorer named Jules Dumont d'Urville.
Contents
What is Adélie Land?
Adélie Land is a large wedge-shaped piece of land on the continent of Antarctica. It covers about 432,000 square kilometers (167,000 square miles). That's a huge area, almost as big as the country of Sweden!
This territory is part of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF). The TAAF is a special overseas territory of France. It includes several islands in the southern Indian Ocean, along with Adélie Land.
Who Discovered Adélie Land?
The coastline of Adélie Land was first seen in 1840. It was discovered by the French explorer Jules Dumont d'Urville. He was leading an expedition to explore the Antarctic region.
Dumont d'Urville decided to name this newly found land after his wife, Adèle. This is how Terre Adélie got its name. His team also collected rocks from the area.
Life in Adélie Land
Adélie Land is a very cold and windy place. Temperatures can drop extremely low, especially in winter. Despite the harsh conditions, some life thrives here.
- Animals: You can find many amazing animals in and around Adélie Land. These include different types of penguins, like the Adélie penguin. There are also seals and various seabirds.
- Research Stations: Because of the extreme environment, no one lives in Adélie Land permanently. Instead, it is home to scientific research stations. The main French station is called Dumont d'Urville Station. Scientists from around the world come here to study the climate, ice, animals, and geology of Antarctica.
- Population: The number of people in Adélie Land changes with the seasons. In winter, there are usually around 33 researchers and staff. In the summer, when conditions are a bit milder, the population can increase to nearly 80 people.
Governing Adélie Land
Even though France claims Adélie Land, the entire continent of Antarctica is managed by international agreements. The main one is the Antarctic Treaty System. This treaty says that Antarctica should only be used for peaceful purposes, like scientific research. It also sets aside any arguments about who owns which parts of the continent.
So, while Adélie Land is officially a French territory, its activities are guided by these international rules. This ensures that Antarctica remains a place for global cooperation and scientific discovery.
Images for kids
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Discovery by Jules Dumont d'Urville, 1840
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Rocks brought back by the expedition in January 1840
See also
In Spanish: Tierra Adelia para niños
