# Adélie Land

> territory in Antarctica claimed by France

**Wikidata**: [Q184319](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q184319)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adélie_Land)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/adelie-land

## Summary

Adélie Land is a territory claimed by France located in Antarctica.  It covers an area of approximately 432,000 square kilometers. [1]

## Summary  
Adélie Land is a territory in Antarctica claimed by France, named after Adèle Dumont d’Urville, the wife of French explorer Jules Dumont d’Urville, who discovered the region in 1840. It spans 432,000 square kilometers and is part of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands, governed under the Antarctic Treaty System. The territory hosts seasonal scientific personnel but no permanent residents.  

## Key Facts  
- **Area**: 432,000 km² (as of 2015).  
- **Claimed by**: France, administered as part of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands.  
- **Coordinates**: 66°39′47″S 140°00′16″E.  
- **Population**: 33 personnel (1956), fluctuating between 11–17 in the early 1950s.  
- **Status**: Dependent territory and second-level administrative division.  
- **Named after**: Adèle Dumont d’Urville.  
- **Borders**: Clarie Coast and George V Coast.  
- **Discovery**: Jules Dumont d’Urville (1840).  
- **Identifiers**: VIAF ID 2863147270504335700004, GND ID 4259627-0, GeoNames ID 6690917.  
- **Research**: Home to Dumont d’Urville Station and other scientific facilities.  

## FAQs  
- **Why is it named Adélie Land?**  
  It honors Adèle Dumont d’Urville, the wife of French explorer Jules Dumont d’Urville, who identified the coastline in 1840.  

- **Who lives there?**  
  No permanent residents, only temporary scientific personnel at stations like Dumont d’Urville, with populations recorded as 11–33 in the 1950s.  

- **Is France’s claim internationally recognized?**  
  No; per the Antarctic Treaty System (1959), territorial claims are suspended, and Adélie Land operates under international scientific cooperation.  

- **What geographic features define it?**  
  It stretches along the Adélie Coast, bordered by the Clarie Coast and George V Coast, with coordinates spanning 66°39′47″S 140°00′16″E.  

## Why It Matters  
Adélie Land serves as a critical hub for French and international scientific research in Antarctica, particularly in climate science and biology. Its claim by France reflects historical exploration and ongoing geopolitical interest in the continent, balanced by the Antarctic Treaty’s emphasis on peaceful cooperation. The territory’s harsh environment and logistical challenges underscore its role in advancing extreme-condition research and global environmental monitoring.  

## Notable For  
- **Largest French Antarctic claim**: Covers 432,000 km², one of the most extensive territories claimed by France in Antarctica.  
- **Scientific significance**: Hosts the Dumont d’Urville Station, a key base for research on penguins, ice cores, and oceanography.  
- **Historic exploration**: Identified by Jules Dumont d’Urville in 1840, linking it to 19th-century Antarctic exploration.  
- **Unique population dynamics**: Staffed solely by temporary personnel, with recorded populations as low as 11 (1950).  

## Body  

### Geography and Location  
Adélie Land occupies a 432,000 km² region of East Antarctica, bounded by the Clarie Coast to the west and George V Coast to the east. Its coordinates (66°39′47″S 140°00′16″E) place it within the Antarctic Treaty area, governed by international agreements since 1959. The territory includes the Adélie Coast and is part of the larger French Southern and Antarctic Lands administrative division.  

### History and Discovery  
French explorer Jules Dumont d’Urville first identified the coastline in 1840, naming it after his wife, Adèle. The claim was formalized by France in 1938, though international recognition remains suspended under the Antarctic Treaty. Historical population data reflects early scientific endeavors, with 11–33 personnel recorded between 1950 and 1956.  

### Governance and International Status  
Adélie Land is administered as a dependent territory of France, classified as a second-level administrative division. While France maintains sovereignty claims, the Antarctic Treaty System (1959) prohibits military activity and defers territorial disputes, prioritizing scientific collaboration. The territory operates under the French Southern and Antarctic Lands framework, with governance tied to French Antarctic policy.  

### Demographics  
No indigenous population exists; temporary residents include scientists and support staff at research stations. Historical records note 11 personnel in 1950, rising to 33 by 1956, reflecting early post-war research efforts. Modern operations continue to rely on seasonal crews.  

### Research and Science  
The territory hosts the Dumont d’Urville Station, a permanent French research facility established in 1956. Scientific focus areas include penguin colonies, glaciology, and climate change studies. Adélie Land’s isolation and extreme conditions make it a unique laboratory for studying Antarctic ecosystems and global environmental trends.  

### Cultural and Linguistic Significance  
The name “Adélie Land” appears in 30+ languages, including French (Terre Adélie), Spanish (Tierra de Adelia), and Japanese (テール・アデリー). It is referenced in global encyclopedias, such as the *Great Russian Encyclopedia Online* and *Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana*, underscoring its international recognition in polar studies.  

### Related Entities  
- **French Southern and Antarctic Lands**: Overseas territory administering Adélie Land.  
- **Antarctic Treaty System**: Governs international conduct in Antarctica, suspending territorial claims.  
- **Jules Dumont d’Urville**: French explorer who identified the coastline in 1840.  
- **Dumont d’Urville Station**: Primary research facility, operational since 1956.  

### Identifiers and Documentation  
Adélie Land is cataloged in major knowledge systems, including VIAF (2863147270504335700004), GeoNames (6690917), and the Getty Thesaurus (1012638). It is documented in the *Great Dictionary of Geographical Names* (2003) and holds Library of Congress authority ID sh90005532.  

### Logistics and Infrastructure  
The territory’s remote location necessitates specialized logistics, with supply missions typically departing from Hobart, Australia. Maritime identification digits (501) facilitate international shipping coordination.  

### Environmental and Geopolitical Role  
Adélie Land contributes to global climate datasets through ice-core analysis and wildlife monitoring. Its status as a French claim underscores historical colonial legacies in Antarctica, while its scientific role aligns with modern, cooperative governance models.

## References

1. [Source](https://github.com/JohnMarkOckerbloom/ftl/blob/master/data/wikimap)
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. OpenStreetMap
4. répertoire géographique des communes
5. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
6. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
7. KBpedia