Île Foch

Île Foch is one of the Kerguelen Islands situated near to the north coast of Grande Terre, the principal island.

It is separated from this main island by a narrow sea arm, the Tucker strait. It borders Île Saint-Lanne Gramont at the northwest, which is separated by the Baie de Londres. At the northeast point it borders Mac Murdo and Howe island.

With an area of 206 km2, it is the second largest island in the archipelago. Its highest point, which has an elevation of 687 m, is named.

Protected area
Since it is the largest island in the archipelago with no introduced species (no rabbits, cats, mice or rats), Île Foch is used as a reference as to the original ecosystem of Kerguelen Island. To prevent any accidental introduction of species, access is highly regulated and restricted to scientific missions only.

Important Bird Area
The island, along with the neighbouring, and relatively large, islands of Île Saint-Lanne Gramont and Île Howe, as well as the smaller Île Mac Murdo, Île Briand, Îles Dayman and Îlots Hallet, have been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA) because of its value as a breeding site, especially for seabirds, with at least 29 species nesting in the IBA.