Archipelago, southern Indian Ocean.
It consists of the island of Kerguelen (also called Desolation Island) and about 300 islets, which together cover about 2,400 sq mi (6,200 sq km). Kerguelen Island, about 100 mi (160 km) long, has active glaciers and peaks up to 6,445 ft (1,965 m) high. Discovered in 1772 by the French navigator Yves-Joseph de Kerguélen-Trémarec, the archipelago was annexed to France in 1893 and became part of the French Southern and Antarctic Territories in 1955. Port-aux-Français is a scientific base on the main island.