Îles de Gough et Inaccessible

Photo : Photo: Steven Chown (CC BY 2.5)

Located in the South Atlantic Ocean, approximately 2,900 kilometres south-southwest of Cape Town, these two remote islands form part of the British Overseas Territory of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. The site encompasses Gough Island and Inaccessible Island, which are characterised by steep cliffs, rugged volcanic terrain, and a subantarctic climate that has limited human settlement and development. The islands support unique ecosystems with endemic plant and animal species, including seabird populations and marine fauna found nowhere else on Earth. The designation recognises the exceptional biological value of these largely pristine environments, which remain largely untouched by human interference due to their extreme remoteness and inhospitable conditions. The islands' isolation has preserved distinct evolutionary processes and natural habitats of international scientific significance. Together, they represent outstanding examples of subantarctic island ecosystems of global importance for conservation.