ANTARCTICA ~T.A.A.F ~

...Amazing postcard...one of the last true untouched wildernesses on the planet....but also sadly enough in the top 10 of most endangered places in the world...with the whole back of the card scanned to show all the stamps and beautiful cancellations...¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Big thanks to Corentin, Julien and Manu!!

© Maxime Aimetti The French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF) are an overseas territory which has been created in 1955 and which comprises the Crozet and Kerguelen archipelagos, the islands of Saint-Paul and Amsterdam, the Adélie Land on the Antarctic continent, and, since 2007, the Scattered Islands (Europa, Glorieuses, Juan de Nova, Bassas da India and Tromelin).

The TAAF are not part of the European Union, but do enjoy a special status as an associated Overseas Country and Territory (OCT).

The territory has no permanent civilian population. Those resident consist of visiting military personnel, officials, scientific researchers and support staff.

Stamps:

Paul-Emile Victor, 1907-1995 (Issued 07-03-2015)

Logos of French South and Antarctic Territory - Year 2015
(Issued 1903-2015)

TAAF ~ Crozet - Île des Pingouins et le Marion Dufresne ~

Today a bit of mystery postcard...but such a fabulous surprise to find in my mailbox...I think I have to thank my friend Johan for this "again" amazing^_^ surprise...I don't know about the link with Antwerp???

With fantastic matching stamp and cancellation:
TAAF stamp featuring Gentoo penguins
(Issued 15 June 2011)

©Taaf François Lepage

The Territory of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (T.A.A.F.) is an overseas territory of France.

 The Crozet Islands are a sub-antarctic archipelago divided into two groups: L'Ocidental and L'Oriental in the southern Indian Ocean. They form one of the five administrative districts of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands.

The Crozets has one of the highest concentrations of breeding seabirds anywhere in the world, they are home to seven species of albatros and half of the world's king penguins.

 The highest point is MT Marion-Dufresne at 1050m. There are no glaciers and they have been a National Park since 1938.