Flag of the French Southern and Antarctic Territories
Flag of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Adopted
23 February 2007
Design
A blue ensign with the French tricolor in the canton and the letters T.A.A.F in the form of a white anchor in the fly surrounded by five, five-pointed white stars.
The flag is features the French tricolor in the canton, often displayed with a white border. In the lower fly, the letters T.A.A.F (from the French name Terres Australes et Antarctiques Françaises) forms a monogram in white, which is stylized to resemble an anchor. The monogram is surrounded by five white stars. The stars are sometimes thought to represent each of the five regions of the territory,[2] though this was not stated in the decree to adopt the flag.[1]
History
Flag of the Senior Administrator of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands
The first senior administrator of the territory, Xavier Richert, introduced a flag for his office. The flag, which was created in 1958, was nearly identical to the current one with the exception of having three stars instead of five.[3] The three stars may have been in reference to his rank of Vice admiral, which is represented by three stars in the French Navy.
References
^ abT.A.A.F. (February 3, 2007). "Order n° 2007-18 of February 23, 2007"(PDF). Journal Officiel des Terres Australes et Antartiques Français (in French). 33: 16–17 – via taaf.fr.
^Klimeš, Roman (1997). "Symbols of Antarctica"(PDF). Proceedings of the International Congress of Vexillology. XVII: 232–237 – via Southern African Vexillological Association.