Île Foch

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Île Foch
L'île Foch is highlighted on this Kerguelen Islands map.
Location Indian Ocean
Coordinates 48° 59′ 39″ S 69° 16′ 42″ E
Archipelago Îles Kerguelen
Area 206.0 km2 (79.5 sq mi)
Highest elevation 687 m (2,254 ft)
Highest point Pyramide mexicaine
District Îles Kerguelen
Population 0

Île Foch is one of the Kerguelen Islands situated near to the north coast of Grand Terre, the principal island.

It is separated from this main island only by a narrow sea arm, the Tucker strait. It borders île Saint-Lanne Gramont at the northwest, which is separated by the Baie de Londres. At the northeast point it borders Mc Murdo and Howe

It is the second largest island in the archipelago (206 km²). The highest point is named la Pyramide Mexicaine, at 687 metres.

Protected area[edit]

Since it is the largest island in the archipelago with no introduced species (no rabbits, cats, mice or rats), Île Foch is used as a reference as to the original ecosystem of Kerguelen Island. To prevent any accidental introduction of species, access is highly regulated and restricted to scientific missions only.

Important Bird Area[edit]

The island, along with the neighbouring, and relatively large, islands of Île Saint-Lanne Gramont and Île Howe, as well as the smaller Île MacMurdo, Île Briand, Îles Dayman and Îlots Hallet, have been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA) because of its value as a breeding site, especially for seabirds, with at least 29 species nesting in the IBA.[1]


  1. ^ BirdLife International. (2012). Important Bird Areas factsheet: Île Foch, Île Sainte Lanne Gramont and Île Howe. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 2012-01-21.

Coordinates: 49°0′S 69°17′E﻿ / ﻿49.000°S 69.283°E﻿ / -49.000; 69.283