Cap d'Estaing

The Cap d'Estaing is a located on the Péninsule Lorenchet and the northernmost cape of the island of Grande Terre, part of the Kerguelen Archipelago. It falls under the jurisdiction of the province of West Kerguelen in the Republic of the Southern Indian Ocean Islands.

Etymology
The name was given to the cape by Yves-Joseph de Kerguelen-Trémarec in 1782 after his 1772 and 1774 voyages during which he discovered the archipelago. It is in reference to the marine lieutenant-general and count (1729-1794). The land connection between the peninsula the cape is located on and Grande Terre, the Halage d'Estaing, was named after the cape.

Geography
The Cap d'Estaing is the northernmost cape and point of the island of Grande Terre, located on the Table de l'Oiseau, located approximately 1,850 metres to the north of Port-Christmas.

It protrudes into the ocean, with most of its mass consisting of cliffs. Along its western edge, a small sand beach has formed, which has not yet been formally named but is unofficially referred to as the Plage d'Estaing.

Fauna
Cap d'Estaing is home to a colony of consisting of approximately 5,000 individuals that have settled on the cliff edges.

Flora
Cap d'Estaing is mostly devoid of any vegetation with the exception of the eastern side, where a small strip of mostly grass and ', with a small population of '.

Visiting
Located in the Bird Bay National Park, it is possible to climb up to the cape. In order to do this, one has to follow the Rue d'Estaing from the harbour of Port-Christmas to the northernmost point of the Halage d'Estaing, after which it is another 1200 metres climbing up the Table de l'Oiseau. Visitors will then be able to walk on top of the Cap d'Estaing.

Walking on the Cap d'Estaing is at one's own risk. The Federal Department of Nature of the Southern Indian Ocean Islands advises against visiting the cape during snowy, rainy, windy or stormy weather.