Île de Croÿ



Île de Croÿ is an unpopulated island that is part of an archipelago known as the Kerguelen Islands, situated approximately 10 miles north-west of the main island. It is located at 48°38'19.3"S 68°37'18.6"E, and is part of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands.

History

Île de Croÿ was discovered in 1776 by Captain James Cook as part of his nautical expedition through the southern hemisphere. It is the largest of five islands in a small group Cook named the 'Cloudy Isles', now known as Iles Nuageuses.

Geography and Geology

Île de Croÿ, at its highest peak, rises 1,699 feet above sea level. The island stretches 3.49 miles long between its furthermost points, and covers an area of approximately 6.2 square miles.The majority of the archipelago is the result of volcanic activity, as indicated by its high concentration of flood basalt and trachytic ignimbrite. The composition and burial depth of the ignimbrite indicates that the last major volcanic eruption in the area occurred between 23,000 and 29,000 years ago, near the end of the Pleistocene.

Climate

The temperature in Île de Croÿ is usually cold, with a temperature averaging 9.0 degrees celsius in the summer months, and an extremely varying but generally below freezing in winter months. It is classified as a tundra environment due to its low temperature and significant precipitation.

Plants and animals

Living on the island are penguins, albatrosses, and seals. No introduced species are present.
Common nameScientific nameIUCN Red List statusIUCN Red List citation
Antarctic fur sealArctocephalus gazellaLeast Concern
Antarctic prionPachyptila desolataLeast Concern
Black-browed albatrossThalassarche melanophrisLeast Concern
Black-faced sheathbillChionis minorLeast Concern
Common diving petrelPelecanoides urinatrixLeast Concern
Eaton's pintailAnas eatoniVunerable
Gentoo penguinPygoscelis papuaLeast Concern
Grey-headed albatrossThalassarche chrysostomaEndangered
Kerguelen petrelAphrodroma brevirostrisLeast Concern
Kerguelen ternSterna virgataNear Threatened
Light-mantled albatrossPhoebetria palpebrataNear Threatened
Northern giant petrelMacronectes halliLeast Concern
Snowy albatrossDiomedea exulansVunerable
Southern rockhopper penguinEudyptes chrysocomeVunerable
White-chinned petrelProcellaria aequinoctialisVunerable
Wilson's storm petrelOceanites oceanicusLeast Concern