Martin-de-Viviès, is the only settlement of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands territory of Amsterdam

Île Amsterdam

New Amsterdam, Amsterdam Island, or Île Amsterdam is a French island in the Indian Ocean located at . It is part of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands.- History :...

 and St Paul Islands

Île Saint-Paul

Île Saint-Paul is an island forming part of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands in the Indian Ocean, with an area of . It is located about southwest of the larger Île Amsterdam, and south of Réunion...

 in the southern Indian Ocean

Indian Ocean

The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...

. It lies on the north coast of Amsterdam Island and houses about 20 scientists and staff.

The station, originally named Camp Heurtin, has been in operation since 1 January 1981, superseding the first station, La Roche Godon. It was named after Paul de-Martin-de-Viviès who, with ten others, spent the winter of 1949 on the island.

External links

• Aerial photograph