This page is for lighthouses of the French Southern and Antarctic Territories (Terres Australes et Antarctiques Françaises, or TAAF), a widely scattered collection of islands in the South Indian Ocean. In its original form, TAAF consisted of several islands in the sub-Antarctic, including the Îles Kerguélen, Amsterdam, St.-Paul, and Crozet. None of these islands have any permanent population, but France maintains military or scientific stations on them. TAAF is administered from an office in Réunion.
In January 2005, the TAAF office also assumed the administration of several small tropical islands in the waters surrounding Madagascar. These islands, known collectively as the Îles Éparses ("scattered islands"), were previously administered as dependencies of Madagascar and then (after Madagascar became independent) as dependencies of Réunion. The three lighthouses listed are all in the Îles Éparses. All of these islands are wildlife sanctuaries closed to visitors except by special permit.
Aids to navigation on these remote islands are operated and maintained by DDE de la Réunion, the transportation ministry of Réunion.
ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. Admiralty numbers are from volume D of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA List numbers are from Publication 112.
- Lighthouses
Île Europa - 1994. Active; focal plane 21 m (69 ft); white flash every 5 s. 18 m (59 ft) "round pylon," according to the light lists. No photo available. The island, largest of the Îles Éparses at about 30 sq km (12 sq mi), has an automatic weather station and a small French military detachment. The island is claimed by Madagascar. Located near the center of the Mozambique Channel between southern Madagascar and southern Mozambique. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JUN-001; Admiralty D7026.5; NGA 32598.
- Île Juan de Nova (2)
- 2001 (station established 1966). Active; focal plane 37 m (121 ft); three white flashes, in a 2+1 pattern, every 15 s. 27 m (89 ft) square cylindrical skeletal tower with lantern, gallery, and enclosed watch room, mounted on a 2-story square concrete base. Tower is white; lantern, gallery, and watch room painted black. The newer tower is shown at right. Lighthouse Explorer has a photo of the 1966 lighthouse, which had a very similar design but had become dangerously rusted. Like Europa, the island is claimed by Madagascar and has an automatic weather station and a small French military detachment. Located about 145 km (90 mi) west of Madagascar. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JUN-002; Admiralty D7033; NGA 32624.
- Île Tromelin (2)
- Date unknown (1970s?) (station established 1950s). Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); white flash every 4 s. 11 m (36 ft) 2-story weather station building; light mounted on a short mast on the roof. The weather station is staffed. A photo appears at right. Tromelin is a very small island very far at sea, 450 km (280 mi) east of northern Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. The island is claimed by Mauritius and by Seychelles. Site and tower closed. ARLHS TRO-001; Admiralty D7073; NGA 32884.
Phare de Juan de Nova
DDE de la Réunion photo
Weather station, Île Tromelin
Institut Pierre Simon Laplace photo