Flag of French Southern and Antarctic Lands

🎨 What the flag means

This flag is blue with the French flag in the corner, because these lands belong to France. In the lower right, the white letters T.A.A.F. are joined to look like a ship's anchor. They stand for the French name, Terres Australes et Antarctiques Françaises. Five white stars surround them; people sometimes say they stand for the territory's five areas, but this was never made official.

📊 Quick facts

👥 Population

140

🏙️ Capital

Port-aux-Français

🗣️ Main language

French

✨ 3 fun facts

1. No one lives here permanently; the people on the islands are mostly scientists, officials and support staff.
2. Several of its islands are a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of their wild nature and enormous bird colonies.
3. Adélie Land in Antarctica was named by French explorer Jules Dumont d'Urville after his wife.