Îlots des Apôtres


The Îlots des Apôtres or Îles des Apôtres are a group of small and uninhabited rocky islands in the north-western part of the Crozet Archipelago in the southern Indian Ocean, north of Île aux Cochons. Their total area is about.

Description

There are two larger islands, together occupying almost 90 percent of the area. The highest peak is Mont Pierre ( on Île Grande. In addition, there are about 20 rocks, with elevations between. The islands are very steep. Despite their small size, Île Grande reaches a height of, and Île Petite.

History

On the night of 1 July 1875, the Strathmore, a three-masted ship sailing between the United Kingdom and New Zealand, was wrecked in the vicinity after striking a reef. Of the 89 passengers on board, 44 survived on Île Grande until 21 January 1876, when they were rescued by another ship.

Important Bird Area

The islets have been identified as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International as a breeding site for seabirds, with at least 25 species nesting there. The birds include wandering, grey-headed, light-mantled, sooty, black-browed and Indian yellow-nosed albatrosses, great-winged, soft-plumaged, white-chinned and blue petrels, medium-billed prions, northern giant petrels, common diving petrels, Crozet blue-eyed shags and Kerguelen terns.

The islets

Island or rockEnglish nameArea
Îlots des ApôtresApostle Islets201.1
Rocher NordNorthern Rock6.0
L’EnclumeThe Anvil1.5
Grande ÎleBig Island150.0
Le ClownThe Clown0.4
La Sentinelle perdueThe Lost Sentinel0.2
Les JumeauxThe Twins0.5
Rocher FenduSplit Rock3.0
Petite ÎleLittle Island30.0
Les Sentinelles du DiableThe Devil's Sentinels1.0
La Grande AiguilleBig Needle1.0
La Petite AiguilleLittle Needle0.2
Le HangarThe Hangar1.5
Le DonjonThe Keep2.5
Rocher SudSouthern Rock1.5
Le TorpilleurThe Destroyer0.1
Le CaillouThe Stone0.4
L'ObélisqueThe Obelisk0.3
Rocher PercéBored Rock1.0