 | |
| Flag of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands | |
| Adopted | 23 February 2007 |
|---|---|
| Design | A blue ensign with the French tricolor in the canton and the letters T.A.A.F in the form of a white anchor in the fly surrounded by five, five-pointed white stars. |
The flag of theFrench Southern and Antarctic Lands (French:Drapeau des Terres Australes et Antarctiques Françaises) is a flag representing the overseas territory of France consisting ofAdélie Land (Terre Adélie), theCrozet Islands (Îles Crozet), theKerguelen Islands (Îles Kerguelen),Saint Paul andAmsterdam Islands (Îles Saint Paul et Amsterdam), and theScattered Islands (Îles Éparses). The flag was adopted on 23 February 2007.
The flag is features theFrench tricolor in the canton, often displayed with a white border. In the lower fly, the letters T.A.A.F (from the French nameTerres Australes et Antarctiques Françaises) forms a monogram in white, which is stylized to resemble an anchor. The monogram is surrounded by five white stars. The stars are sometimes thought to represent each of the five regions of the territory,[1] though this was not stated in the decree to adopt the flag.[2]
The French Southern and Antarctic Lands – includingAdélie Land, theCrozet Islands, theKerguelen Islands,Saint Paul andAmsterdam Islands and theScattered Islands – became anoverseas territory of France in 1955. Previously, the islands which make up the territory had been attached to theColony of Madagascar and Dependencies, at the time aFrench colony).[3]
The first senior administrator of the territory, Xavier Richert, introduced a flag for his office. The flag, which was created in 1958, was nearly identical to the current one with the exception of having three stars instead of five.[4] The three stars may have been in reference to his rank ofVice admiral, which is represented bythree stars in the French Navy.[1]
In 2007, the official flag of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands was adopted.[2]
