The Site is located in the southern Indian Ocean and consists of two sub-Antarctic archipelagos – Crozet and Kerguelen – and the subtropical islands of Amsterdam and Saint-Paul. The islands are widely separated by open sea, so the centre coordinate given is purely notional. The Site includes a great variety of inland and coastal wetland types such as peatlands, marshes and lakes, rocky shores, estuaries and fjords. It supports many endemic species including the globally vulnerable Eaton’s pintail Anas eatoni and Crozet pintail Anas eatoni drygalskii, and the critically endangered Amsterdam albatross Diomedea amsterdamensis. The islands represent an important refuge and reproduction ground for millions of migratory birds. Many marine mammals such as the southern sea elephant Mirounga leonina and the Antarctic seal Arctocephalus tropicalis are also well represented. The major threat is related to the introduction of non-native species such as cats and rats that are leading to the population decline of many bird species. Climate change is also affecting the ecological character of the Site.