Île aux Cochons
Island Uninhabited sub-Antarctic island in the Crozet Islands
A subantarctic island in the southern Indian Ocean, Île aux Cochons supports large seabird and penguin colonies and is visited primarily by scientific expeditions.
Île aux Cochons is an uninhabited subantarctic island in the Crozet Archipelago, administered as part of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands. The island is noted for its seabird and seal colonies and remote, harsh climate.
The island’s shores and rocky slopes provide breeding habitat for large numbers of seabirds and marine mammals, including penguins and various petrel and albatross species. There are no permanent human settlements and landings are tightly regulated for conservation.
Because of its location in the southern Indian Ocean and protected status, Île aux Cochons is visited only by authorised scientific or conservation expeditions and is otherwise left largely undisturbed.
The island lies among the Crozet group in the southern Indian Ocean and is reached only by vessel during occasional research or management missions.
- Access restrictions: Part of the Crozet Archipelago within the French Southern and Antarctic Lands and strictly uninhabited year-round, with access controlled by French authorities.
How to Get to Île aux Cochons #
Access is by multi-day ship from Réunion or other southern Indian Ocean ports, as part of scientific expeditions or government-authorized voyages. Visits require permission from French authorities and are weather-dependent.
Best Time to Visit Île aux Cochons #
Île aux Cochons lies in a sub-Antarctic island group; access is limited to scientific or authorized expeditions during the austral summer window.
Weather & Climate near Île aux Cochons #
Île aux Cochons's climate is classified as Tundra - Tundra climate with consistently warm temperatures year-round. Temperatures range from 0°C to 9°C. Heavy rainfall (2548 mm/year), wettest in May.
January
January is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of 3°C. Heavy rain (229 mm) and breezy conditions.
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February
February is cold with highs of 9°C and lows of 4°C. Heavy rain (215 mm) and breezy conditions.
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March
March is cold with highs of 9°C and lows of 4°C. Heavy rain (209 mm) and breezy conditions.
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April
April is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of 3°C. Heavy rain (256 mm) and breezy conditions.
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May
May is cold with highs of 6°C and lows of 1°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (295 mm) and breezy conditions.
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June
June is cold with highs of 5°C and lows of 0°C. Heavy rain (226 mm) and windy conditions.
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July
July is cold with highs of 4°C and lows of 0°C. Heavy rain (219 mm) and breezy conditions.
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August
August is the coolest month with highs of 4°C and lows of 0°C. Significant rainfall (188 mm) and breezy conditions.
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September
September is cold with highs of 4°C and lows of 0°C. Significant rainfall (170 mm) and breezy conditions.
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October
October is cold with highs of 5°C and lows of 0°C. Significant rainfall (157 mm) and breezy conditions.
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November
November is cold with highs of 6°C and lows of 1°C. Significant rainfall (169 mm) and breezy conditions.
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December
December is cold with highs of 7°C and lows of 2°C. Heavy rain (215 mm) and breezy conditions.
