View source for Adélie Land

{{short description|Territory in Antarctica claimed by France}}
{{about|the French-claimed sector of Antarctica|the French colonies in South America|France Antarctique}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox country
| conventional_long_name   = Adélie Land
| native_name              = {{native name|fr|Terre Adélie}}
| common_name              = Adélie Land
| image_flag             = Flag of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands.svg
| flag_caption           = Flag of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands
| flag_size              = 130
| alt_flag               = Flag of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands
| image_coat             = Armoiries Terres australes et antarctiques françaises.svg
| coa_size               = 85
| symbol_type            = {{illm|Coat of arms of French Southern and Antarctic Lands|fr|Armoiries des Terres australes et antarctiques françaises|lt=Coat of arms}}
| alt_coat               = Coat of arms of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands
| national_motto                   = {{native phrase|fr|"[[Liberté, égalité, fraternité]]"|italics=off}} ({{Langx|en|"Liberty, equality, fraternity"}})
| national_anthem                   = {{lang|fr|[[La Marseillaise]]}}<br/>{{Small|("The Marseillaise")}}<br/>{{Center|[[File:La Marseillaise.ogg]]}}
| image_map                = Antarctica, France territorial claim.svg
| capital                  = [[Dumont d'Urville Station]]
| official_languages       = [[French language|French]]
| status          = District of [[French Southern and Antarctic Lands]]
| leader_title1            = [[President of France|President]]
| leader_name1             = [[Emmanuel Macron]]
| leader_title2            = Administrator
| leader_name2             = [[Cécile Pozzo di Borgo]]<ref name="taafchart">{{Cite web |url=http://www.taaf.fr/Mme-Cecile-Pozzo-di-Borgo-nouveau-prefet-administrateur-superieur-des-TAAF |title=Official nomination |access-date=28 November 2015 |archive-date=2 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181102192316/http://www.taaf.fr/Mme-Cecile-Pozzo-di-Borgo-nouveau-prefet-administrateur-superieur-des-TAAF |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| leader_title3            = Head of District
| leader_name3             = Pierre Bascelli<ref name="taafchart1">[https://terreadelie-antarctique.blogspot.com/]</ref>
| sovereignty_type         = [[French overseas territory]]
| established_event1       = Discovered and claimed by France
| established_date1        = 20 January 1840
| established_event2       = Administered from French Madagascar
| established_date2        = 1924
| established_event3       = Administered as a district of the [[French Southern and Antarctic Lands]]
| established_date3        = 1955
| area_rank                = 
| area_magnitude           = 
| area_km2                 = 432000
| area_sq_mi               = 
| population_estimate      = {{nowrap|{{circa}} 33 (winter)<br />&lt;&nbsp;80 (summer)}}
| population_estimate_rank = 
| population_estimate_year = 
| population_census        = 
| population_census_year   = 
| currency                 = [[Euro]]
| currency_code            = EUR
| time_zone                = 
| utc_offset               = +10
| time_zone_DST            = 
| DST_note                 = 
| utc_offset_DST           = 
| calling_code             = [[+262 262 00 2]]
| cctld                    = {{hlist|[[.aq]] | [[.tf]]}}
| demonym                  = French
| GDP_PPP                  = 
| GDP_PPP_year             = 
| HDI                      = 
| HDI_year                 = 
| today                    = 
| largest_city             = capital
}}

'''Adélie Land''' ({{langx|fr|Terre Adélie}} {{IPA|fr|tɛʁ adeli|}}) or '''Adélie Coast'''<ref name="Encyclopedia Britannica">{{Cite web |title=Adélie Coast |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Adelie-Coast |access-date=25 March 2023 |website=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]] |language=en}}</ref> is a [[Territorial claims in Antarctica|claimed territory]] of [[France]] located on the continent of [[Antarctica]]. It stretches from a portion of the [[Southern Ocean]] coastline all the way inland to the [[South Pole]]. France has administered it as one of five districts of the [[French Southern and Antarctic Lands]] since 1955 and applied the [[Antarctic Treaty System]] rules since 1961. Article 4 of the Antarctic Treaty deals with territorial claims, and although it does not renounce or diminish any preexisting claims to sovereignty, it also does not prejudice the position of contracting parties in their recognition or non-recognition of territorial sovereignty. France has had a permanent station in Adélie Land since 9 April 1950.

== Geography ==
Adélie Land lies between [[136th meridian east|136° E]] (near [[Pourquoi Pas Point]] at {{coord|66|12|S|136|11|E|}}) and [[142nd meridian east|142° E]] (near [[Point Alden]] at {{coord|66|48|S|142|02|E|}}), with a shore length of about {{convert|350|km}} and with its inland part extending as a [[sector of a circle]] about {{convert|2600|km}} toward the [[South Pole]]. Adélie Land has borders with the [[Australian Antarctic Territory]] both on the east and on the west, namely on [[Clarie Land]] (part of [[Wilkes Land]]) in the west, and [[George V Land]] in the east. Additionally, it is the only territory claimed within [[French Southern and Antarctic Lands]] that is not an island.<ref>{{Citation |title=French Southern and Antarctic Lands |date=17 March 2023 |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/french-southern-and-antarctic-lands/ |work=The World Factbook |access-date=28 March 2023 |publisher=Central Intelligence Agency |language=en}}</ref>

Its total land area, mostly covered with [[glacier]]s,<ref name="Encyclopedia Britannica" /> is estimated to be {{convert|432000|sqkm}}.<ref name="Institut Polaire">{{Cite web |title=La station Dumont d'Urville |url=https://institut-polaire.fr/fr/antarctique/la-station-dumont-durville/ |access-date=26 March 2023 |website=Institut Polaire |language=fr-FR}}</ref>

The coast of Adélie Land is known for its [[katabatic wind]]s which push snow and sea ice away from the coast.<ref name="Encyclopedia Britannica" /> In a 1915 [[Science (journal)|Science Magazine]] volume, it was named the "stormiest spot on the face of earth".<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Greely |first=A. W. |date=12 March 1915 |title=The Meterology of Adelie Land |url=https://archive.org/details/jstor-1640386/page/n1/mode/2up?view=theater&q=wind |journal=[[Science (journal)|Science]] |volume=41 |issn=0036-8075 |via=Internet Archive}}</ref>

== History ==
The coast of Adélie Land was discovered in January 1840 by the French explorer [[Jules Dumont d'Urville]] (1790–1842) who named it after his wife, [[Adèle Dumont D'Urville|Adèle]].<ref>{{Cite book |title=From Venus to Antarctica: The Life of Dumont D'Urville |last=Dunmore |first=John |year=2007 |publisher=Exisle Publ. |location=Auckland |isbn=978-0-908988-71-6 |page=209}}</ref><ref name="Hanks Hardcastle Hodges 2006">{{cite book |last=Hanks |first=Patrick |authorlink=Patrick Hanks |last2=Hardcastle |first2=Kate |last3=Hodges |first3=Flavia |title=A Dictionary of First Names |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |publication-place=Oxford, England |series=Oxford paperback reference |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-19-861060-1 |oclc=67869278 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9nd05X_awIgC |page=41 |access-date=20 November 2024}}</ref> This is the basis of the French claim to this Antarctic land. The first French research station, [[Port Martin]], was built in 1950. It was destroyed by a fire in 1952, and replaced by [[Dumont d'Urville Station]] in 1956. Charcot Station was a French inland base built which was occupied from 1957 to 1960.

Cap Prud'Homme Camp, an Italian-French base, opened in 1994. Prud'Homme and Dumont d'Urville are the only currently remaining active stations.<gallery mode="packed">
Reconnaissance de la Terre Adelie, le 20 Janvier 1840.jpg|Discovery by [[Jules Dumont d'Urville]], 1840
Roquemaurel Roches Terre Adélie MHNT MIN 2013 0 1-5.jpg|Rocks brought back by the expedition in January 1840
</gallery>

== Research stations ==
=== Port Martin and Base Marret (1950–1952) ===
{{Main|Port Martin}}
The site of [[Port Martin]] was discovered during a [[French Antarctic Expedition#1949-1951|French Antarctic Expedition]] under {{ill|André-Frank Liotard|es|André Liotard|fr}} on 18 January 1950.<ref name="ats">{{cite web |year=2006 |title=Port Martin, Terre Adelie |url=http://www.ats.aq/documents/recatt/Att337_e.pdf |access-date=30 January 2013 |work=Management Plan for Antarctic Specially Protected Area No. 166: Measure 1, Annex G |publisher=Antarctic Treaty Secretariat}}</ref> Liotard, along with 11 men, established the station on 9 April 1950 at {{coord|66|49|04|S|141|23|39|E|}}.<ref name="ats" /> Port Martin housed a winter population of 11 in 1950–51 and 17 in 1951–52.<ref>{{Cite news |date=26 January 1952 |title=Fire destroys station in Antarctica, French expedition's loss |newspaper=[[The Times]]}}</ref> A crew under Mario Marret built a temporary secondary base in January 1952: Base Marret on [[Petrel Island (Antarctica)|Petrel Island]].<ref name="ats" /> Port Martin was destroyed by a fire during the night of 23–24 January 1952. All of the inhabitants were safely evacuated, and they [[Overwintering|overwintered]] at Base Marret.<ref name="ats" /><ref name="comnap-catalogue">{{cite report |url=https://www.comnap.aq/s/COMNAP_Antarctic_Station_Catalogue.pdf |title=Antarctic Station Catalogue |date=August 2017 |publisher=[[Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs]] |page=75 |isbn=978-0-473-40409-3 |access-date=16 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221022102847/https://static1.squarespace.com/static/61073506e9b0073c7eaaf464/t/611497cc1ece1b43f0eeca8a/1628739608968/COMNAP_Antarctic_Station_Catalogue.pdf |archive-date=22 October 2022 |url-status=live |type=catalogue}}</ref> Only the ancillary buildings of Port Martin were not destroyed by the fire and they have remained mostly untouched since.<ref name="ats" />

=== Dumont d'Urville Station (1956–present) ===
{{Main|Dumont d'Urville Station}}
The [[Dumont d'Urville Station]] is a year-round French research base located at {{coord|66|40|S|140|01|E|}}.<ref name="comnap-catalogue" /> The station is {{convert|4815|m2|abbr=}} large<ref name="comnap-catalogue" /> and houses a summer population of 120 and a winter population of around 30.<ref name="Institut Polaire" /> It was built on 12 January 1956 for the [[International Geophysical Year]] of 1957–58.<ref name="comnap-catalogue" /> Initially intended to be a temporary station, it was expanded and continually occupied.<ref name="comnap-catalogue" /> Like Base Marret, the station is located on Petrel Island, which is 5 kilometres (3.1&nbsp;mi) from the mainland.<ref name="comnap-catalogue" /> The station's research includes [[ecology]], [[marine biology]], [[glaciology]], [[meteorology]] and more.<ref name="comnap-catalogue" /> In the documentary, ''[[March of the Penguins]]'' (2005), Dumont d'Urville Station was the main filming location.<ref>{{Cite web |year=2007 |title=The Emperor's Close-Up |url=http://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/0511/whats_new/march_of_the_penguins.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605215043/http://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/0511/whats_new/march_of_the_penguins.html |archive-date=5 June 2013 |access-date=29 May 2013 |work=National Geographic's Adventure |publisher=National Geographic Society}}</ref>

=== Charcot Station (1957–1960) ===

{{Ill|Charcot Station|fr|Base Charcot}} was a French inland base located on the [[Antarctic ice sheet]] at {{convert|320|km}} from the coast and from Dumont d'Urville Station, at an [[elevation]] of about {{convert|2400|m}}. The station, built for the [[International Geophysical Year]] of 1957–58, paid homage to [[Jean-Baptiste Charcot]]), and was occupied from January 1957 through 1960 housing solely three men.

The base was composed of a main body of {{convert|24|m2}} (the "barrack") which consisted of semi-cylindrical sections of sheet metal assembled end to end. This form was planned to best withstand the snow pressure accumulated on it. Horizontal galleries were connected to house scientific measurement devices, while a vertical air conduit opened a few metres above the snow level provided ventilation.

=== Robert Guillard Station (1994–present) ===
Robert Guillard Station<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pnra.aq/index.php/it/concordia/stazione-robert-guillard |title=Stazione Robert Guillard |website=PNRA |access-date=7 April 2023}}</ref> known as Cap Prud'Homme ({{coord|66.691104|S|139.895677|E|format=dms|region:AQ|display=inline}}) is an Italian-French camp, opened in 1994, located on the coast of the [[Antarctic ice sheet]], in Adélie Land, about {{cvt|5|km|spell=in}} from [[Petrel Island (Antarctica)|Petrel Island]], where the French Dumont d'Urville Station is. All the supplies and equipment for the Italian-French [[Concordia Station]] are transported by a combined convoy of up to seven [[Caterpillar Inc.|Caterpillar]] tractors from Cap Prud'Homme, with [[Karl Kässbohrer Fahrzeugwerke|Kässbohrer]] trailblazers and a team of up to nine people; each convoy transports an average of 150 tons of payload.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.italiantartide.it/cap-prouhomme/ |title=Cap Prud'Homme |website=Italiantartide |access-date=7 October 2018 |archive-date=29 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190529004603/https://www.italiantartide.it/cap-prouhomme/ |url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Wildlife ==
[[File:Colonie de manchots Adélies.jpg|thumb|Colony of [[Adélie penguin]]s near the [[Dumont d'Urville Station]]]]
Part of the [[Géologie Archipelago|Pointe Géologie Archipelago]] in Adélie Land is protected by the [[Antarctic Specially Protected Area]] 120.<ref name="comnap-catalogue" /> In 2016, a study predicted that an Adélie penguin colony located in Cape Dennison in Commonwealth Bay might be subject to extinction. In 2010, a fallen glacier blocked the flow of a river and caused sea ice to overflow to the rocky surface that [[Adélie penguin]]s require to nest.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Collins |first=Richard |date=29 February 2016 |title=The Adélie penguins of Antarctica in great danger |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/columnists/arid-20384531.html |access-date=24 March 2023 |website=[[Irish Examiner]] |language=en}}</ref>

Before 2017, an estimated 18,000 pairs of Adélie penguin resided in the Adélie Land. However, in 2017, an insurgence of sea ice forced the penguins to travel further to reach the sea. Due to this, nearly all of the newborn penguins had died of starvation and exhaustion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ganguly |first=Manisha |date=13 October 2017 |title=Penguin catastrophe leaves thousands of chicks dead with only two survivors |url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/10/13/world/antarctica-penguin-chicks-die/index.html |access-date=24 March 2023 |publisher=[[CNN]] |language=en}}</ref> The Dumont d'Urville Station is in proximity to Adélie penguins, [[emperor penguin]]s, and seals.<ref name="comnap-catalogue" />

== See also ==
* [[Adelie Land Meteorite]]
* [[Adélie Valley]]
* [[Research stations in Antarctica]]
* [[Antarctic field camps]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{coord|75|00|S|139|00|E|scale:40000000|display=inline,title}}
{{Districts of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands}}
{{French overseas departments and territories}}
{{Antarctic territorial claims}}
{{Antarctica}}
{{Antarctic fields camp}}
{{Outlying territories of European countries}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Adelie Land}}
[[Category:Adélie Land| ]]
[[Category:France and the Antarctic]]
[[Category:French Southern and Antarctic Lands]]<!--District-->
[[Category:Geography of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands]]
[[Category:Lands of Antarctica]]
[[Category:Regions of Antarctica]]
[[Category:Territorial claims in Antarctica]]