Île Foch

Île Foch

The Île Foch is highlighted on this Kerguelen Islands map.
Geography
Location	Indian Ocean
Coordinates	48°59′39″S 69°16′42″E
Archipelago	Îles Kerguelen
Total islands	1
Major islands	Île Foch
Area	206.0 km2 (79.5 sq mi)
Area rank	2nd (In the Kerguelen Islands)
Length	27.9 km (17.34 mi)
Width	12.2 km (7.58 mi)
Coastline	107 km (66.5 mi)
Highest elevation	687 m (2254 ft)
Highest point	Pyramide mexicaine
Administration
France
District	Îles Kerguelen
Demographics
Demonym	Fochen
Population	0

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

It is separated from this main island 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 Mac Murdo and Howe island.

With an area of 206 square kilometres (51,000 acres), it is the second largest island in the archipelago. Its highest point, which has an elevation of 687 metres (2,254 ft), is named la Pyramide mexicaine, 'the Mexican Pyramid'.

Protected area

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

The island, along with the neighbouring, and relatively large, islands of Île Saint-Lanne Gramont and Île Howe, as well as the smaller Île Mac Murdo, 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.